Agenda - Council - 03/08/1988 - Laserfiche WebLink

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CASE 47: 15 Minutes DIS(~3SS OFFICIAL FAP DESIGNkTION By: Dave Hartley, City A~ministrator Background: Over the past several years the City Council has wrestled with the designation of routes for roadways, railroads, trail systems, and other public facilities. At times this process has been frustrating recognizing that buildings and development have occupied the intended path of these proposed improvements. One method (which has been used) to preserve these routes is for each Councilmsmber to re~er the plan or anticipated route and to make judgments which would preserve these routes. Sc~e problems with this approach is that routes are not always preserved and that the intended action of the City Council to preserve a specific route is not adequately communicated to the property owner in advance of plans to develop. Another option before the City Council is found in Minnesota Statute 462.359 (enclosed) which states in its purpose the dilemma which has previously been identified. An official map is adopted by the City Council with an ordinance; therefore, to amend such a document, an ordinance amending the official map must also be adopted. This can be cumbersome yet very effective in communicating the intentions of the policymakers to preserve lands for public use. The official map does not mean that the designated location of a road, trail, or other right-of-way is the only location that can be used for that particular public facility, but rather takes the action to preserve that route until such time that the City Council amends the official map to indicate that the preservation of those lands is no longer needed. Furthermore, it is not suggested that absolutely all plans for public facilities be established on an official map, but rather those routes which are highly sensitive to either future developaent or good planning within the community. The procedure for establishing an official m~p is that the Planning and Zoning Commission would review and approve plans tO establish the official map and pass that recu~ndation to the City Council; the City Council then considers adopting an ordinance which would establish the map and after adoption the map is filed with the County Auditor. The cost of the preparation of an official map should also be considered since the centerline of all designated routes must be established by a registered land surveyor. Additionally, the enforcement of the official pap can also be costly in that if an individual wishes to build a structure on or near a designated route, the City Council must decide within six months whether or not it wishes to purchase the land for the designated route. Enclosed for your information is ~nnesota Statute 462.359.- Recommendation: Council action will be to discuss an official map designation of routes and right-of-ways for public facilities. If the City Council wishes to pursue this approach to preserving land, then the proper action would be as fcltows: