You're dealing with Politicians and Politics. Myself personally, I would question anything/everything that's happening in regard to this issue.
What might their motivations be? What outside influences might there be on them.
(Even if the officials are not politians, they work for politicans and want to keep their jobs, so they'll do as their bosses tell them.)
Their biggest issues may be City/County liability concerns. Or someone else with a better idea or possibly how that person or company could benefit the city (or them) better.

Sorry to sound like this, but time after time I read how local governments do crazy things that may be contrary to common sense or for questionable motives.

My suggestion is to fill the meeting hall when this comes up. With adults and children.
Make sure (publicly) that they know all adults affected by this ARE local registered voters.
Explain the benefits to you all staying in the building and how many of these will disappear if you must leave. Benefits like programs for troubled youth, after school programs, various safety courses, and on and on, even if some are only in planning stages. Make sure they know that the city/county is notliable for anything that happens within these programs.
Many things become issues of money, responsibility and liabilty, so address these to kill these concerns of the city/county.
Make sure you have as much media in attendance as possible and get your side of it to them before the meeting starts. Get them on your side. Trust me, politicians will know that the media is watching closely, so make that happen.
Do the best Public Relations job you can, at the hearings/meetings and to the media.
No matter what others'have said here, if the property could be considered choice commercial property potential, assume someone is out to try hard to make that happen. The media can be your friend, especially if they are not afraid of the local governments.

These are my personal opinions and suggestions. Things I'd be involved in and have been involved in. Do whatever you can and I wish you much luck.

Marshall