The State College Borough Council, State College Area School District and State College Planning Commission moved a step closer to reaching an agreement last night on the rezoning of public lands in the borough.

The council wants school-owned land to remain as open space to please the residents, but the school board wants to retain the land's property value.

Corl Street, College Heights, Radio Park and Easterly Parkway Elementary Schools would be affected by the proposed rezoning.

The council will recommend its zoning proposal to the school board after Monday's work session. The school board will then make a decision based on what the council proposed.

A public hearing on the issue will follow soon after.

A major area of consideration was the right to a first refusal by the borough, initially mentioned by council member Bill Welch.

First refusal means the borough could buy the school lands at market price before it is offered to developers.

School board members said they will consider the right to a first refusal when they discuss the issue in more complete detail. They will most likely support the idea because it would allow for more green space on their property, said Peter Everett, Planning Commission chairman.

This was the first time the right to a first refusal idea had been proposed, and it was something that all members agreed on.

Under the proposal, the borough could buy land at the market price that would have been re-zoned.

"It is time to put our money where our mouths are," Welch said.

In addition, Everett said if park land such as Central Parklet and Memorial Field remained available, it could lead to an eventual new town center to increase the borough's attractiveness.