11-28-1994 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE REGULAR ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON NOVEMBER 28, 1994 (Saga Hill Tax Forfeit Property - Continued) p Steven Valek reported that he was the original owner of the tax forfeit parcel and when he sold the land to a developer, a lot -line rearrangement was to have been done to allow them to expand their rear yard. The developer lost the land and the rearrangement along with it. It was never their intent to sell all of the land- Valek said he was denied the right to reclaim the property as a result of the tax forfeiture. Valek asked the County to sell to them approximately a half -acre to relieve some hardship due to flooding. it use of the property and the ability to maintain the drainage system, his property will flood. The County has recently agreed to approve his request and Valek is now asking for City approval. Valek said this acquisition will not interfere with the rest of the land. Moorse said the County is looking at expanding the area which is now a pond. Even if the Valek's acquire the requested property, an easement would be granted to the County. Callahan indicated he understood the acquisition of the tax forfeit parcel was an all -or- nothing proposition. Moorse said that although this was true, the County will allow the Valek's to buy a portion of the property. This was worked out over the past two weeks. The Bridgewood Corporation is in the planning process of developing a 28 -lot subdivision over a 30 acre area, which is proposed to include the 9 acre tax forfeit parcel. Mr. Kryzaniak of Bridgewood said their company is sensitive to the environmental issues and the need for parkland. Bridgewood's proposal is to trade two acres of wetland and • seven acres east of the tax forfeit parcel, the Soskin property for the tax forfeit parcel. Kryzaniak said the topography of the parcel is flatter and more suited to a residential development. Another representative of Bridgewood reported on the layout of the development plan. He commented that the Soskin property is hilly , with a wetland area, trees, and a ravine, and would be good park land. It would be their intent to enlarge the wetland for runoff and construct swales to maintain proper drainage. He also noted an access if the Soskin property were to become a park, it would have very good access from Wildhurst. Also, the existing platted right -of -way is now located next to a swale, and Bridgewood considered this not to be a good location for a road. r� 2