Agenda - Council Work Session - 04/26/2022

Home

CC Work Session 2.4. Meeting Date: 04/26/2022 Information Title: Provide Direction on Terms of Shawn Acres Park Cartway Easement Agreement for Thorn Lake Property PID #04-32-25-31-0001 Purpose/Background: Purpose: The purpose of this case is to provide direction to Staff regarding various conditions of the Shawn Acres Park Cartway Easement Agreement for Thorn Lake Property PID #04-32-25-31-0001. Background: On August 18, 2021, the City of Ramsey received an official petition pursuant to Minnesota Statute 435.37 requesting establishment of a cartway to access the landlocked Thorn Lake parcel having PID #04-32-25-31-0001 (the "Subject Property"). A copy of the petition is attached. Minnesota Statute 435.37, subd. 1(a), requires a city council to establish a cartway at least two rods wide connecting a petitioner's land to a public road if a petition is presented by the owner of a tract of land containing at least five acres who has no access thereto except over lands of others. Minnesota Statute 435.37, subd. 1(b), states that the city council may select an alternate route other than that petitioned for if the alternate route is deemed by the city council to be less disruptive and less damaging to the affected landowners and in the public's best interest. Minnesota Statute 435.37, subd. 1(c), states that the amount of damages must be paid by the petitioner to the city before the cartway is opened. For the purposes of said subdivision, damages means (1) the compensation (if any) awarded to the owner of the land upon which the cartway is established and (2) the costs of professional and other services, hearing costs, administrative costs, recording costs, and other costs and expenses that the city may incur in connection with the proceedings for the establishment of the cartway. On September 14, 2021, Staff presented the petition for cartway access to the Subject Property to the City Council, outlined the petitioner's requested cartway route, and presented two alternate routes developed by City Staff. On October 12, 2021, the City Council adopted Resolution #21-291 designating the route for the petitioned cartway access to the Subject Property using Staff's recommended route through Shawn Acres Park, and ordering a Public Hearing for 7 pm on December 14, 2021. On November 9, 2021, the City Council adopted Resolution #21-316 rescheduling the Public Hearing at the request of the petitioner to 7 pin on February 8, 2022, to allow the petitioner to attend the hearing and to provide additional time for the petitioner to serve required hearing notices. On February 2, 2022, the petitioner submitted notarized affidavits to the City verifying that the required Public Hearing notices were delivered to all parties within the required timelines and provided an escrow payment of $20,000 to cover the City's costs and expenses related to their petition request. The petitioner also posted Public Hearing notices at the City's posting places within the required timelines. On February 8, 2022, the Ramsey City Council held a Public Hearing to receive public testimony, evidence, opinions, or views, and to approve the designated cartway route over, under, and across the southerly and easterly