Agenda Packets - 2005/05/23 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Item No: 9D Meeting Date: May 23, 2005 Type of Business: CB Administrator Review: _____ City of Mounds View Staff Report To: Honorable Mayor and City Council From: James Ericson, Community Development Director Item Title/Subject: Resolution 6537 Authorizing the Acquisition of Use Deeds for Tax Forfeited Parcels Associated with the Sherwood Estates Subdivision Date of Report: May 23, 2005 Background: Staff received notice from the Ramsey County Department of Property Records and Revenue of two tax-forfeited parcels within the Sherwood Estates subdivision. For the Council’s information, properties become “tax-forfeited” when their owners fail to pay the assessed property taxes. If that occurs, title to the land and buildings are “forfeited” back to the State of Minnesota. After a certain length of time, governmental agencies and the cities in which the properties are located are provided opportunity to acquire “use deeds” for a specified public use. If the property is not acquired by a governmental agency, it will be scheduled for a public auction. Discussion: The parcels in question, labeled Parcel A and Parcel B on the attached map, are located on the east side of Spring Lake Road where it intersects with north side of County Road 10. The City currently holds an easement over the triangular lot (Parcel A) which was granted in conjunction with the Sherwood Estates plat. On that parcel and the rectangular lot (Parcel B) adjacent to the north was constructed a stormwater pond for the Sherwood Estates development. Parcel B has the potential for development but only if a stormsewer connection is made from Sherwood Place to Ardan Avenue along right of way platted as Knollwood Drive. Parcel A was platted as an outlot for ponding purposes with no intention then or in the future to be developed. Both lots are heavily vegetated with mature trees located on Outlot B. Rather than allow the parcels to become available for public auction and risk having to defend its position in court (at great expense), staff recommends that the City acquire the use deeds for the lots which would guarantee that they would remain available for stormwater management purposes. If at some point in the future development occurs between Sherwood and Ardan, the City can at that time revisit its “use” of the rectangular lot. There would be no cost to the City to acquire the use deeds for these two parcels other than County and State filing fees, which is estimated not to exceed $300 for each parcel.