Agenda - Council - 07/24/2012 - Laserfiche WebLink

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CC Regular Session Meeting Date: 07/24/2012 By: Jo Thieling, Administrative Services Information 7. 8. Title: Consider Acquisition of Tax Forfeit Properties and Resolution #12-07-XXX Authorizing Acquistion of Tax Forfeit Property for Utility Easement Purposes Background: The City was notified by Anoka County that the State of Minnesota has ownership of four tax forfeit properties located in Ramsey. The State of Minnesota, through Anoka County, is offering Ramsey the first right to acquire the referenced tax forfeit properties. Observations: Attached to this case are profiles for each of the four tax forfeit properties; which include a GIS image and Anoka County property record. After review by City Planning, Engineering, Police, Fire and Parks Staff the summaries below were developed for each of the four tax forfeit properties: 1.) 23-32-25-11-0070 — This property is located west of Saint Francis Boulevard off of 156th Lane NW and is 9.03 acres in size. This property is a long meandering piece of land that is dotted with wetlands. There is an opportunity to develop this property. Staff has been notified in the past of interest by property owners to the west to incorporate this property into a larger development. Furthermore, infrastructure is located near this property to be used for future development; and, to connect an existing gravity sewer line to an existing lift sewer line. Besides securing a trail easement, there is little foreseeable value in the City acquiring this property. Staff recommends that City does not pursue purchasing this property. 2.) 23-32-25-11-0006 — This property is located on the east side of Saint Francis Boulevard on the north side of 156th Lane NW and is .13 acres. This is a very small triangular shaped piece of land. There is little economic value to this piece of property. Originally, this piece of land was suppose to be an easement to cover significant existing City infrastructure. However, the developer at the time could not convey the agreed upon easement to the City and the property is now an outlot. Therefore, the City was granted an escrow to purchase this piece of land in the future. Because there is little or no value for this property in the private sector and the need for the City to place a utility easement over this property Staff recommends that the City purchase this parcel. 3 & 4.) 26-32-25-41-0024 & 26-32-25-41-0023— These two parcels share a common property line and they are located on the south side of 146th Court NW in the Ponds of Ramsey Development. Both of these properties are landlocked wetlands. The City does have a drainage and utility easement that covers the majority of each lot. There is little or no economic value in either lot. The property owners to the north may be interested in purchasing these properties. The only value in purchasing these two properties is to have control over City drainage and utility easements, to protect wetlands or for future trail use. Staff does not recommend the City pursue purchasing these two properties. Attached to this case is also the City Land Acquisition Policy. Staff did use the City Land Acquisition Policy to guide and support the recommendations presented. Recommendation: