The Raleigh-Durham International Airport Authority has issued a request for proposals for land that it owns near the airport. Three undeveloped sites north of I-40 near Old Reedy Creek Road, totaling about 256 acres, will be up for lease, the Triangle Business Journal reports.

The RFP comes as a disappointment to the Conservation Fund, which made an informal offer of $6.6M to purchase the land. That plan was also supported by cycling enthusiasts, who have used informal trails on the tract for many years, despite the no trespassing signs.

By leasing the land, the authority can help pay for a massive redevelopment of its facilities now in the planning stages. Also, selling the land outright would be more complicated than leasing it, considering that the Federal Aviation Administration would have to approve the sale. The airport authority originally acquired the land under the condition that it be used for aviation.