Minutes - Council - 07/27/2004 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Assistant Conmmnity Development Director Trudgeon and he did not see anything wrong with this. She stated if they were to wind back the clock they would never have gone on that property, but a mistake has been made. She would hate to see more trees come down behind the Dusbabek house, which would happen if Mr. Bauer had to bring the driveway from the north. That easement does not belong to the City to put in a full 60 foot easement and make a road out of it. Even if there were a temporary driveway that full 60 feet does not sit well. She proposes that between the landlord and Mr. Bauer they find a resolution, and Mr. Bauer purchase a driveway to facilitate the entrance into his new home. This would be more than what he would have had. It would eliminate the problem of the trees coming down north of the Dusbabek house and does not stop Mt'. Bauer from having access in the future. She would imagine the City of Ramsey should take responsibility for some of this and the owners should be happy with the amount they are paid. What the property owners had there cannot be replaced, but there will be healthy trees. With this proposal Mr. Bauer would not have the problem of a street leading to his house that would have traffic coming down it. She noted in her estimation this suggestion would address the problems, such as the width of the road that would impact the Kaas later, Mr. Bauer having access to his property without further expense, and the Dusbabeks having more trees removed from their property. Mayor Gamec stated the problem with this suggestion is if they do something temporary they are asking for more problems in the future. He does not like long driveways necessarily, but he thinks eventually there would be a street there. His personal feeling would be to negotiate with the property owners and get an easement through the particular area, just doing a driveway and not paving that street. The City would have the easement, but the street would not be paved. With any fimtre development the street would then have to be blacktopped. He stated Mr. Dusbabek put it in a good way; they want resolution. Some decisions are not the most popular, but he thinks that would be the best way to handle this particular project. He would not like to see the street blacktopped or finished at this time; it would look almost like a private driveway. Councihnember Cook concurred. He stated with the original agreement they allowed a driveway to go through on a road easement. This should be worked out now rather than in the future. Motion by Councilmember Cook, second by Mayor Gamec, that the City move forward with negotiations to purchase the road easement through the Kaas and Dusbabek properties at 160th Lane and, if necessary, to authorize condemnation. Further Discussion: Councilmember Strommen indicated she would like to hear the reaction of the property owners to Councilmember Kurak's proposal, which had some creative thinking for a problem that has no good solution. Regarding Councilmember Cook's statement of working this all out now, she does not think it is a problem not to totally resolve the easement at this time. Development may not happen for a long time and they do not have to totally close this out. She thinks Councilmember Kurak's proposal is a good one to consider and she would like to hear more discussion amongst the Council before it is ruled out. Grog Bauer, 6017 - 167th Avenue NW, stated he understands the dilemma as far as the easement. He could see that the easement would be acquired with some sort of agreement that there would City Council/July 27, 2004 Page 13 of 35