#29 - Purchase Agreement for Olson Property

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STAFF REPORT DATE: 1-7-2025 TO: City Council FROM: Clark Schroeder, Special Projects AGENDA ITEM: Lake Elmo Sports Complex- Olson Purchase agreement REVIEWED BY: Nicole Miller- City Administrator BACKGROUND: In the process of approving the Royal Club development in June of 2017, a condition was put in place that a Million-dollar donation would be made to the Park fund when the former Tartan Ballfields where no longer available for the city/community to use. Resolution 2017-047. This donation was made in 2021 when phase 3 was approved, and the ballfield were taken out. DA 8/10/21 ISSUE BEFORE COUNCIL: Should the council approve the Purchase agreement and pass the resolution buying the property in order to develop new Ballfield and a sports complex? PROPOSAL DETAILS/ANALYSIS: The Fall of 2023 the City Council decided to investigate the possibility of purchasing land for a pinwheel ballfield/sports complex to replace the Tartan ballfields. On October 12th 2023, council gave direction to staff in seeking such property that met criteria such as being on a collector street, close to a watermain, near 3-phase power, room for septic, stormwater reuse, plenty of parking, buffered from large residential development, generally square, Packet HERE. Staff found 9 properties which met the criteria for a pinwheel ballfield/sports complex. Letters were sent out to all 9 properties to see if there was interest in talking to the city about a possible sale for ballfields. Of those 9 properties, 3 responded with interest. City council directed staff to obtain appraisals on the three properties. After that, council directed the Mayor and special projects manager Schroeder to negotiate a price for one or more properties. Evaluating the properties with the Mayor, community development staff, and Mr. Schroeder, it was determined that one of the properties was not suitable for ballfields due to the configuration of it, water issues, and there being a single family home on the property. In evaluating the Olson and Jurek properties, it was determined that due to access and the utilization of more amenities needed by the city in the next 40 years, the purchase of both properties would be in the best long-term interest of the city. The Olson property will need a lot line adjustment of 5 acres before closing. Ms. Olson wants to keep 5 acres next to her son’s property, leaving us 32 acres of land to purchase. This property will need to be rezoned to Public Facilities and re-guide the future land use map to Park as our other parks are shown. A consolidated athletic field/sprots complex has been in the parks master plan since 2009. Here is a link to our 2024 parks plan. FISCAL IMPACT: Purchase price will be $1,230,752 for the Olson property, plus some miscellaneous closing costs. The city will be utilizing the initial million-dollar donation and an interfund loan from one of funds and pay it back over either a 5 year period or 10 year period.