10-12-2005 Council Agenda - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

MAYOR Bill B[esener COUNCIL Jim LaValle Rick Montour Barbara Allan John Keis 515 Little Canada Road, Little Canada, MN 55117-1600 ADMINISTRATOR (651) 766 -4029 / FAX: (651) 766 -4048 Joel R. Hanson www.ci.little-canacla.mn.us MEMORANDUM TO: Mayor Blesener and Members of the City Council FROM: Joel Hanson, City Administrator DATE: October 7, 2005 RE: Park Street Vacation At the August 24th meeting, staff was directed to review the proposed vacation of Parlc Street with representatives of Independent School District #623 to verify their intend use for the property they would gain. I contacted Mr. Len Copt, Buildings & Grounds Manager for the School District, who indicated that they would move the existing fence to the west and expand the fields with the area they gain. (This may not occur immediately, but that would be their long -term plan.) He also noted that they would not provide for any parking in this area, nor access to the fields that would promote parking in Terrace Heights. Related to the concern involving parking within Terrace Heights, some of this parking is likely generated by people using the fields without the school's formal consent. As mentioned above, the school does not promote nor provide any incentives for parking in Terrace Heights. However, it is not possible to control every aspect of human behavior. If unauthorized parking continues to occur within Terrace Heights, I assume we can direct some type of enforcement activity to address this issue, with the cooperation of the property owner. The last issue of concem relates to the location of the drive area within Terrace Heights that is located upon the existing Park Street right -of -way. Attached is a page from the construction plans for the B2 project. The arrows point to the east and west sides of the right -of -way. The existing drive is also shown within this area. In scaling the construction plans, the City Engineer's estimate that the east side of the drive is five feet over the centerline of the Park Street right -of -way appears accurate. Also attached is an aerial photo of this area. Combining this photo with the B2 Reconstruction Plans, it is safe to surmise that the drive stays in a fairly constant position within the Park Street right -of -way. Based on this information, it appears a reasonable approach would be to vacate the easterly 20 feet of the Park Street Right -of -way as originally recommended by the City Engineer in his September 9"' memo. In doing so, we should also retain drainage and utility easements over the vacated area. Staff believes this approach has the following advantages: - 1 -