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HomeMy WebLinkAbout6A Estate Avenue SE Vacation Report Phone 952.447.9800 / Fax 952.447.4245 / www.cityofpriorlake.com 4646 Dakota Street SE Prior Lake, MN 55372 PLANNING COMMISSION AGENDA REPORT MEETING DATE: MARCH 21, 2016 AGENDA #: 6A PREPARED BY: JEFF MATZKE, PLANNER PUBLIC HEARING: NO AGENDA ITEM: REVIEW REQUEST TO VACATE A DRAINAGE AND UTILITY EASEMENT LOCATED WITIHIN THE EASTWOOD 3RD ADDITION PLAT DISCUSSION: Introduction Estate Avenue Realty LLC has requested the vacation of a drainage and utility easement located on Lot 2, Block 1, Eastwood 3rd Addition. This site is located at 14844 Estate Avenue NE along the southern shores of Lower Prior Lake. History On August 15, 2011 the Eastwood 3rd Addition was approved by City Council (2 residential lots). Neither lot has been constructed upon to date and the drainage and utility easement that was created to handle storm water drainage from both lots is proposed to be vacated in favor of a separate storm water management system. Current Circumstances The drainage and utility easement was planned for the site of a storm water feature that would satisfy the City and State requirements. Design of the house on Lot 2 has proved difficult given the constraints created by this easement location. The applicant and City Engineering and Public Works Departments have discussed alternative options to handle the storm water design which are planned to ultimately be handled by an underground private system. This private system will be maintained by the property owner under the terms of a maintenance agreement with the City of Prior Lake. With the placement of this alternative storm water system and maintenance agreement the current easement will no longer be necessary. As required by State Statute 462.356 Subd.2, the Planning Commission is required to make a recommendation to the City Council regarding the disposal or acquisition of public lands as it relates to compliance with the Comprehensive Plan. Upon proper notification, State Statute 412.851 allows the Council to vacate right-of-way by resolution. The statute also states “no such vacation shall be made unless it appears to be in the public interest to do so.” ISSUES: The Planning Commission must make two determinations. Does the vacation of the existing easement comply with the Comprehensive Plan and is there a public need or anticipated future need for the dedicated property? Comprehensive Plan Review One of the goals of the Comprehensive Plan is to “provide well-maintained streets, water distributions systems, sewage systems, and other municipal services”. The public drainage and utility easement area proposed to be vacated in this case is not needed to provide adequate storm water service with the implementation of an alternative underground storm water system and maintenance agreement. Public Need No public need will be present since the new storm water system will satisfy the requirements for storm water management in the area. ALTERNATIVES: 1. Recommend the City Council approve the proposed vacation. 2. Continue the discussion to a date and time certain to allow the staff to provide additional information specifically requested by the Planning Commission. 3. Based upon expressed findings of fact, recommend the City Council deny part or all of the application based upon inconsistency of the proposal with specific regulations of Zoning and Subdivision Ordinances and/or specific policies of the Comprehensive Plan. RECOMMENDED MOTION: Motion and second to recommend that the City Council approve the proposed vacation. EXHIBITS: 1. General Location Map 2. Illustrative Sketch of Easement Area E S T A T E A V S E L O R I R D S E Lower Prior Lake Ü 14956 Pixie Point Circle SE Variance Location Map LOWER PRIOR LAKE GD (904) 140TH ST NE 1 5 0 T H S T S E E A G L E C R E E K A V N E H I G H W A Y 1 3 Lower Prior Lake SUBJECT PROPERTY SUBJECT PROPERTY