After six years of planning and negotiating, the city of Burien finally has approved the purchase of a nine-acre portion of the Seahurst Park area for $750,000.

Council members voted 5 to 1 at their Sept. 10 meeting to approve the purchase. Councilman Gordon Shaw cast the lone dissenting vote.

In 2001, the council directed city staff to look into avenues of generating revenue to purchase the land. A value of $750,000 subsequently was assessed by the city, and that amount was stated in the contract with the landowner. It could not be changed as long as the purchase was completed by Sept. 14.

Some lawmakers were skeptical of rushing into a decision that could have a significant impact on the surrounding community in the future.

"I would like to delay this so that the members of the community have more time to be involved in the process," Councilman Jack Block Jr. said.

"We are being asked to spend a lot of money without the proper community involvement."

Block abstained from the final vote.

Other council members, however, agreed that it was time to act on the purchase.

A presentation by Scott Thomas, the city's acquisition and development planner, gave council members a summary on the process that has been going on the past six years.

"If we don't seal this deal (today), then there is no telling what he outcome will be, the price could change and the property owner could decline to negotiate with us any further," Thomas added.

Major policies established in 2001 included plans for the city to acquire new open space property-the Seahurst Master Plan and the Ryanine Salmon Plan.

Both accommodated the purchase of the Seahurst property.

"This has been a long time coming and it's wonderful to have the land preserved," Councilwoman Sally Nelson said.

"I know this has been a long torturous process and we are grateful to the staff."

In 2004 and 2006, the city was awarded grants that covered half of the purchase cost. Leaving the city with $375,000 to pay.

The city has tried on two occasions to extend the deadline with the property owner, but both overtures were rejected.

"If the city does not act today then the grants will be lost," Thomas said.

Community members who live around the Seahurst Park area have had concerns that trails would be constructed on the land in question, a project the community does not approve of. Thomas assured the community that there would be no plans for the construction of any trails and that all planning documents that are guiding the city include no such language.

"I think that there has been a public process since 2003," Mayor Joan McGilton said. "This property ahs been identified over the years and I am going to be a yes (vote) for this."

By the end of the discussion and after hearing a few public comments the council passed the motion to authorize the city manager to accept assignment for the purchase of the property.