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HomeMy WebLinkAbout7A Chatonka Heights Vacation Report Phone 952.447.9800 / Fax 952.447.4245 / www.cityofpriorlake.com 4646 Dakota Street SE Prior Lake, MN 55372 CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT MEETING DATE: SEPTEMBER 26, 2016 AGENDA #: 7A PREPARED BY: JEFF MATZKE, PLANNER PRESENTED BY: DAN ROGNESS, COMMUNITY & ECON. DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR AGENDA ITEM: PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE VACATION OF DRIANAGE AND UTILITY EASEMENTS LOCATED WITHIN THE CHATONKA HEIGHTS PLAT DISCUSSION: Introduction The purpose of this agenda item is to hold a public hearing to consider vacating public drainage and utility easements. Hemlock Holdings has requested the vacation of an easement located on the City-owned property at the southeast corner of the development, used for a storm water ponding area. History In 1986 the drainage and utility easement was granted to the City for the purpose of installing a regional storm water pond. In 1989, the area was purchased by the City and is still currently under City ownership. The drainage and utility easement remains on the site. As part of the Chatonka Heights plat, a portion of this easement/property area has been approved for transfer to the future adjacent residential lots (the land swap). Current Circumstances The property which contains the easement is also owned by the City. Upon proper notification, State Statute 412.851 allows the Council to vacate easement by resolution. The statute also states “no such vacation shall be made unless it appears to be in the public interest to do so.” Conclusion Staff supports the vacation of certain public drainage and utility easements located on the subject property since there is no longer a public interest in maintaining this easement. ISSUES: The City Council must make two determinations. Does the vacation of the existing easement comply with the Comprehensive Plan and is there any public interest to keep and maintain the existing easement? 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 drainage and utility easement was once needed in 1986 due to the storm water drainage. Since the City purchased the property in 1989, and the area remains in City ownership for the adequate storm water ponding, the easement is no longer necessary. Public Interest Based on City staff review of this specific location, there is no public interest to keep and maintain this drainage and utility easement since the City will own the necessary area as Outlot A of the Chatonka Heights plat. ALTERNATIVES: 1. Motion and a second to approve a resolution approving the vacation of drainage and utility easements within the Chatonka Heights plat. 2. Motion and a second to deny a resolution vacating drainage and utility easements in within the Chatonka Heights plat based upon expressed findings of fact. 3. Motion and a second to table action and request additional information from staff. RECOMMENDED MOTION: Alternative #1 ATTACHMENTS: 1. General Location Map 2. Existing Easement Document #221528 3. Plat drawing indicating easement Phone 952.447.9800 / www.cityofpriorlake.com 4646 Dakota Street SE Prior Lake, MN 55372 RESOLUTION 16-XXX RESOLUTION APPROVING THE VACATION OF DRAINAGE AND UTILITY EASEMENTS LOCATED WITHIN THE CHATONKA HEIGHTS PLAT MOTION BY: _____________ SECOND BY: _______________ WHEREAS, Hemlock Holdings LLC has submitted a petition for the vacation of a drainage and utility easement located within the area of Chatonka Heights. The petition has been duly presented to the City of Prior Lake, signed by the owners of the property situated in the City of Prior Lake, Scott County, Minnesota to wit: Legal Description (Vacated Easement Area): A permanent easement for public utility and drainage purposes over, under, and across the east 303.56 feet of the south 200.00 feet of the north 10 acres of the east 20 acres of Government Lot 3, Section 26, Township 115, Range 22, Scott County , Minnesota. (PID 25-926-018-0) WHEREAS, Notice of the hearing has been duly published and posted in accordance with the applicable Minnesota Statutes, and WHEREAS, A Public Hearing was held on said petition on Monday, September 26, 2016, in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 4646 Dakota Street SE; and WHEREAS, The City Council then proceeded to hear all persons interested in said petition and persons interested were afforded the opportunity to present their views and objections to the granting of said petition; and WHEREAS, The public drainage and utility easements considered for vacation are not necessary to facilitate storm water drainage or utility service. NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF PRIOR LAKE, that: 1. The above recitals are herein fully incorporated herein as set forth above. 2. The City Council of Prior Lake has determined that the vacation of said public easement would be in the public interest. 3. Pursuant to Minnesota Statues 462.358, the following described public easement is hereby vacated: Legal Description (Vacated Easement Area): A permanent easement for public utility and drainage purposes over, under, and across the east 303.56 feet of the south 200.00 feet of the north 10 acres of the east 20 acres of Government Lot 3, Section 26, Township 115, Range 22, Scott County, Minnesota. (PID 25-926-018-0) PASSED AND ADOPTED THIS 26th DAY OF SEPTEMBER 2016. VOTE Hedberg Keeney McGuire Morton Thompson Aye ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ Nay ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ Abstain ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ Absent ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ______________________________ Frank Boyles, City Manager