Agenda - Parks and Recreation Commission - 12/08/1988

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Case # 7 COUNTRYSIDE ESTATES Park Land Acquisition By: William K. Goodrich, City Attorney BACKGROUND: As you may recall, the city Council directed staff to explore the feasibility of acquiring park land in the Countryside Estates area. Staff together with residents in the area have concluded that the two most suitable parcels would be either Lot 9, Block 2, Windsorwood or a tract of land in the SW~ of 5-32-25. Attached are copies of plat maps showing these two parcels. The assessor has a market value of $6,000.00 on Lot 9, Block 2. This lot has been forfeited to the State of Minnesota for delinquent property taxes, subject to the owner's right to redeem for a one year period. The redemption amount would be the amount of the delinquent taxes together with interest, penalties and related costs all totaling approximately $2,000.00. If the owner does not redeem by October 18, 1989, the State will become the owner. The County will then auction the property at a land auction. The County usually gives the City an opportunity to purchase the property if it has a need for it. The present owner of this property, according to County records, is Donald F. Wells, 2812 40th Avenue South, Minneapolis, Minnesota. The other parcel under consideration is a part of the SW~ of SW~. The City would be interested in a 5 acre tract located within this parcel. A Mr. Otto Sundberg is the owner of the SW of SW together with an adjacent 10 acre tract. He therefore owns 50 acres at this site. I have contacted Mr. Sundberg about the possibility of purchasing 5 acres of his property to be located in the northwest corner of the SW of SW. Mr. Sundberg indicated he would sell at the rate of $10,000.00 per acre. I suggested to Mr. Sundberg that if he were to donate the 5 acres to the City at this time, this could then be considered the park dedication requirement for his property. He said he is not interested in that proposal as he will not be developing the property himself. At this time, the Park Commission is being requested to make a recommendation to the Council on which of the above alternatives to pursue. For your information, area residents prefer the Sundberg property as the new park location.