Agenda Packets - 2017/08/21 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Long Lake Woods Discussion August 21, 2017 Page 2 Discussion: The residents owning property within and surrounding the Long Lake Woods redevelopment area would like to proceed with the work necessary to survey and design a plat for the creation of single family homes. As many as 14 new lots could be created depending upon how the plat is laid out. Access into the site can be platted from either Sherwood Road on the south side or Ardan Avenue on the north side. It is conceivable that access into the interior area could occur midblock on Eastwood, but a house would have to be sacrificed for this to occur. There are right of way easements granted through the site where Greenwood Drive could be extended, however there is incomplete access on the south and only partial access from the north. The property owner on the south side has expressed opposition to the development and will not grant access; I’m not sure whether the owner on the north side has been approached. The participating property owners would have to bear the substantial up-front costs associated with platting and engineering of the site, plus legal fees, grading, drainage, installation of the underground utilities and construction of the road. Recommendation: Review the information and consider the presentation from the property owners. Staff has long supported the development of this area however our message to the residents has always been that the City would want all of the property owners to be on board. The residents may ask if the Council would consider using eminent domain to secure the requisite right of way if one property owner holds out, blocking access to the site. The residents may also ask if the Council would be amenable to having the City up-front some of the development costs to be repaid with assessments certified against the newly created lots. Respectfully submitted, ________________________ James Ericson City Administrator