05-07-2002 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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n~:rNtcrrs c1~rY couNCi>/ MAY 7, 2002 purchase the entire site, when it would get the wetland area at no cost. Fahey indicated that the Council has informed the developer that the City is not interested i^ granting variances to maximize the development of this site. Hageman pointed out that the neighborhood wants the property as open space/park land. He indicated that they would like to move forward and find out how much the property is worth. Scalze noted that the City ca~mot attempt to buy the property until it lotows what it is worth. Fahey commented that the City does not want to spend a large amount of money on delineations and survey work when the developer should bear the risk of those costs. Fahey felt the information should be submitted from the developer and then the Council would react to that information. Fahey asked about the pipeline safety issue. Hageman stated that the neighborhood did not want to accept the developer's word 1'a' pipeline locations. Fahey stated that delineation of where the pipelines and the boundaries of the easement area will also have to be done. Steve Simmons noted the discussion of the value of this property as developable property, but asked what the value of it is to the commwiity as undeveloped property. Simmons indicated that he was an ecologist at the U of M and felt that Yhis was a very unique property for the community. Simmons stated that people have said that the oaks on this property go back prior to the time of settlement. He noted that the ground is pristine and had a great educational potential for the community. Simmons felt that this was an important prehistoric site and would make an interesting interpretation center. Simmons pointed out that everything in the environment is connected, and noted that the water from this wetland goes into Gervais Lake and then into the Mississippi River, and then into the Gulf of Mexico. Simmons felt that this property had a history worth telling. He felt that this was not all about the dollars and cents of urban development, but about the educational potential this property had for the community. Fahey asked if an appraiser could look at the site from the perspective of multiple assumptions. Fahey noted that the Park Commission did not indicate whether this was a good site for the City to be pursuing for park purposes, but rather want Co weigh the dollars and cents dais purchase would have on other park improvement needs. Fahey pointed out the large area of defined wetland that will remain regardless of whether or not development goes in. Fahey felt that the issue was a balancing question of the needs of the community with the property owners rights.