Agenda Packets - 1995/05/01 - Laserfiche WebLink

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�✓ The purpose of assessment formulas is to allocate assessed costs among benefited properties without an actual determination, on a property-by-property basis, of special benefits received. However, the formula should result in an allocation of assessments which is reasonably related to the benefit received. Any one predetermined formula will not be appropriate in all cases because of circumstances unique to the relationship between the specific project and the specific properties benefitted. When considering an assessment method or formula for any given project, it may be necessary to combine assessment methods or to modify the methods described below. Therefore, the following description of methods of assessments should be regarded as guidelines, which may not be appropriate in all cases. Section II, b, 1 beginning with the second sentence and-the-word- "however ...",- contains a- - - description of a modification of the policy which gives the property owner the option of providing a stormwater ponding easement in lieu of the levy of special assessments. This policy may be appropriate in some cases; however, there will be many cases when it is not appropriate to give the property owner the option described in the policy statement0 would recommend deleting everything in paragraph 1 starting with the word "however". I recognize that there will be cases when the City may wish to modify an assessment method given the unique circumstances of a specific parcel. There may also be cases in which the City decides to contract with a property owner to trade an interest in property from the landowner in exchange for a reduction or waiver of special assessments. However, this is true not only in the case of storm sewer easements, but may also be true in other cases, such as street improvements. For example, the City Council could decide to recognize the value of conveyance of an easement for street purposes in a street widening project when determining the amount to be assessed against a parcel. Rather than attempt to formalize the procedures to be followed in such cases into the policy, I would recommend that they simply be treated on a case-by-case basis. Following paragraph, paragraph 2, provides that up to 20% of gross acreage may be deducted for street right-of-way on unplatted parcels of 5 acres or more. It may be that this policy is more appropriate for a residential development than for commercial or industrial property. For example, a 5 acre parcel in an industrial area may be fully utilized without internal public right- of-way. If the staff agrees, it may be appropriate to modify this paragraph so that it applies only to property zoned for residential use, or even only toe family residenliaLuse. Section II, c deals with front footage assessment and provides that the actual physical dimensions of a parcel abutting an improvement"shall NOT be construed as the frontage utilized to calculate the assessment for a particular parcel." There may be cases, particularly in commercial areas, where street frontage is a perfectly appropriate method for levying assessments. Therefore, I would recommend that "shall NOT" be amended to read "will generally not". Section III, A deals with the method to be used for street reconstruction. The last sentence of the first paragraph provides "the front footage rate shall be determined by dividing the project cost by the total number of adjusted front feet in the project area x the individual adjusted front footage x two thirds (2/3)". ,Virt4tp I would recommend that the following sentence be added at the conclusion at that paragrapih:L2The assessments per adjusted front foot may vary depending on the underlying zoning of a parcel.lj This is intended to address the situation where, for CLL85803 3 MU125-19