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Request for help from the Mounds View City Council For the project known as Long Lake Woods Dear Mayor and members of the City Council, I recently have had discussions with a few of the property owners of the underlying land of the “Long Lake Woods” project. I explained to them in great detail the current status of the project including costs, issues and timing. It was a rather uncomfortable conversation for me as costs have increased considerably due to a few unforeseen circumstances that have come up since they first approached me about helping them with this project. It is safe to say that the consensus of the group is that the project has become unfair on these issues and that without help by the City Council it is time to withdraw our application. Below is a description of three major issues and the unfairness that we feel they have create d. Condemnation of Mr. Doll's "right of way": The group understands that the condemnation of a citizen’s property is not something that the City takes lightly. All of the property owners involved in this project have lived in this location for a number of years and have an understanding of the history of what has taken place between the City and all properties involved in this potential development. This is not only a sensitive issue with the Council it is a sensitive issue with the property owners making this request, who are also citizens of the City of Mounds View. Please review the issues below with an open mind. This project has been in the planning stage for over 30 years. The City has been acquiring "right of way" for the future street for years with the intension that it will one day be developed. This is why the City already has ownership of over 50% of the needed "right of way" for the future street. All "right of way" that the City has acquired has been given to the City, not purchased. All other "right of way" that is needed for the project will be given to the City as part of the platting process for free other than Mr. Doll “right of way”. Mr. Doll clearly knew that this area of the City was being readied for development. Mr. Doll’s father owned the property prior to himself. It was not as if he purchased the property and no one told him that a development was being contemplated. Not only did his family give up the needed "right of way" next to his homestead, he made an agreement with the City to use the "right of way" for his driveway with the understanding that when the adjoining property developed, he will need to vacate his driveway. The Doll family through tax forfeiture purchased the lot that is the subject of the condemnation. Why didn’t the City collect the “right of way” when the lot was created like other adjo ining properties? There are people in our group that believe that it was a requirement at the time of the creation of the lot? When the Doll family purchased the lot they clearly knew that the adjoining property was intended for development. Prior to the lot purchase, the family already had the agreement in place for use of their driveway on the City 'right of way" at their homestead on the adjoining lot. The County valuation for property taxes on the subject lot is only $20,000 not $95,000 or $100,000 like other vacant lots in the City. It has been suggested to me that he is being offered for the condemnation as much as the County valuation has on the whole lot? Why are they offering this large amount for this tiny portion of his property? On top of this, the fees for the legal process are estimated to be $20,000 - $30,000 to acquire the “right of way” from Mr. Doll. That means that the cost of acquiring this little piece of “right of way” will cost approximately $50,000. In light of the history, this amount seems very unfair when everyone else has either given or will give up their property for free.