10/01/2001 Park Board Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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Sue Walseth 2 Marty Asleson: "For fair market value. For the recreational value, and the high land as high land value." • 5/11/94 Transcribed Planning & Zoning Board Minutes from Audio Cassette Tapes: (The Whitcomb's were in the audience.) Kirk Corson: "And then the questions of trails came up and basically this is the cul -de -sac on the property on the north side of Holly. Basically this is the park area here and we are showing that we are taking the straightest approach possible to cross the wetland for access to cross over to Birch Park" Jeanne C.: "When I talked to the Park Board, there is a piece between Hokanson's Development and my property and the park. We are trying to work with the Park Board so that we have a safe access to the park. We want to know where the children are going to play. That is what they are recommending. They can walk right down across the boardwalk., and go into the park. We are talking about a little strip of maybe less than an acre." From 1994 — 1998: No city activity was initiated on purchasing the land and building the trail, due to the low volume of homes in Trappers' Crossing. May 1998: Due to the steep slope of trail corridor from Trappers' Crossing, the staff looks at alternative trail locations. February 1999: The staff determines there is not a suitable alternate trail location. March 1999: The staff sends a letter to Mrs. Whitcomb expressing the city's desire to acquire the strip of land to the park. May 1999: The staff is notified that all correspondence should be routed through the Whitcomb's family attorney, Chuck Seykora. January 2000: Anoka County Assessor indicates the value of the land is $500 per acre. A proposal is sent to the Whitcomb attorney to purchase 2 acres for $6,000 - -- significantly higher than the assessor's $1,000 value. November 2000: The city reaches a verbal agreement with the Whitcomb's to purchase 2 acres of land for $6,000. April 2001: Mr. Whitcomb informs the staff that they are no longer interested in selling the property to the city. June 2001: Park Board directs the staff to request the city attorney contact the Whitcomb's attorney regarding the acquisition of this essential trail connection. June 2001: Whitcomb's attorney informs the city attorney that the Whitcomb's decided to hold the property for a few years to make a determination whether to sell the 20 acres of land. July 2, 2001: Park Board directs the staff to determine estimated costs to condemn the property. July 30, 2001: The staff informs the Park Board that estimated legal fees for a commission hearing are $15,000. If the award is appealed, and assigned to a jury trial, the legal fees could double. Staff is directed to put this ,• item on the October 2001 Park Board agenda.