The Oak Ridge City Council approved a resolution that defines the purpose of properties previously acquired for a general aviation airport and directs staff to establish a plan for their disposition and coordinated planning.

City Manager (presented as) Mr. Heeman told council the city already owns most of the parcels in question and has created the Oak Ridge Corridor Development Corporation to serve as a lead agency for industrial development. He said including the corridor development corporation on the list of entities the city may transfer property to will help the city coordinate master planning and parceling of large industrial tracts rather than marketing them in isolated parcels.

Heeman also told council one parcel has a General Services Administration deed restriction; city staff would have to purchase the restriction removal from GSA to allow other uses. He said that cost would be a pass-through in any subsequent sale because the city would aim to sell the parcel at a price that recovers that outlay.

Council members asked for clarity about ownership and the GSA restriction. Heeman and city legal staff explained the city holds title to all but one parcel, but federal deed restrictions limit use until the restriction is removed. Councilmember Hensley asked why the city would have to pay to remove a deed restriction on land the city already owns; staff responded the GSA process requires a payment to remove the restriction even if the city holds title. Councilmember Hope asked city staff to negotiate carefully with GSA on fair-market valuation, noting past discrepancies between rural assessed values and fair-market price for transferred federal lands.

The resolution passed 7–0. Staff said sales proceeds would be used to replenish a fund for potential future airport acquisition or related airport purposes consistent with the original grant restrictions.