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Mounds View City Council July 8, 2002 <br />Regular Meeting Page 12 <br />• Mr. Morgan said he is not paid to be at these meetings and, in addition to not being paid to be <br />here, he has been spending money as a taxpayer for City Attorney fees as well as fees he has paid <br />to hire consultants. He then said he does not enjoy paying money for this situation and would <br />hope that they can do something other than to agree to disagree. <br />Richard Busby of 2645 Louisa indicated the Council had heard a lot about water problem which <br />is a big problem but along with that he would like Council to take into consideration home values <br />in the area as he would not purchase a home in a busy traffic area and he feels adding that much <br />traffic to the area would diminish property values. He then asked Council to vote down the <br />request. <br />Martin Harstad of 2195 Silver Lake Road in New Brighton indicated he did not have an answer <br />for all the questions but, if directed to do so will be happy to look into them for Council. He then <br />said he has been working for a couple of years to resolve some outstanding properties since his <br />father's retirement. <br />Mr. Harstad explained that in 1974 the 72 townhomes were platted and that means that a separate <br />legal description for 72 individual lots were drafted and recorded so he got 72 tax statements <br />from the County. He then said six townhomes were built but were not selling so his parents, <br />being land developers, moved on to other projects all the while still receiving tax statements for <br />66 lots. He further commented that the project was not abandoned but his parents moved on to <br />• other projects. <br />Mr. Harstad commented that the City changed its ordinance and townhomes were no longer <br />allowed in an R-1 district. He then said he is not sure why the ditch was not dug but said he <br />would ask his father tomorrow. He further explained that he can do nothing on his land because <br />of the change to the ordinance and pointed out that his father had dumped sand on the property <br />and was told by the City he did not have the right even to do that. <br />Mr. Harstad indicated his parents have continued to pay property taxes on those 66 boxes and, in <br />turn residents suggest that the property was abandoned. He then said they did not agree with the <br />change in 1977 and voiced that opinion to Staff, their attorney and Council. He further noted that <br />in 1983 they did try to come in and obtain a rezoning but were denied. <br />Mr. Harstad indicated that ownership of the property is a complex issue because of the common <br />area. He then said he has a clouded title and would need the consent of the other townhome <br />owners if he steps outside of the 66 platted boxes. <br />Mr. Harstad indicated he had tried to resolve the matter with the six property owners and they <br />have agreed to disagree and what they disagree over is the dollar amount for their signatures to <br />do something with the property. He then said that, since he was not able to reach an agreement <br />with the other property owners they started looking at how to utilize the 66 boxes they own. He <br />also noted that twinhomes would not work because they do not fit inside the little boxes. <br />• <br />