10-13-2009 Council Work Session Packet

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_ ___ _ � I 1180 Lyman Avenue January 9,2009 Page 2 of 3 8) While no acceptable septic sites had been located, it was eventually determined that the property still had significant value to the City for future construction of a cul-de-sac at the end of a very long private road that has no turnaround except for use of private driveways, and to allow for adequate future emergency vehicle access. It was also noted that even if it did serve as a septic solution for the property at 1190 Lyman, it would be valuable to an adjacent property as an expansion of their existing lot. Subsequently, pursuant to November 14, 2005 action by the City Council to authorize the purchase,the City acquired this property from MnDOT for the sum of$10,000. The quit-claim deed to Orono was recorded in 2007. The deed reserves an easement of undefined width along the northeast boundary of the property for"wall maintenance, footing and drainage" purposes. 9) In Apri12007 Moorse provided Brian Palmer with a diagram indicating the cul- de-sac easement location and a possible relocation of that potential cul-de-sac site. Moorse's letter to Palmer indicates that Septic Inspector Willie Gibbs had been working with Palmer's septic consultant and had located a suitable drainfield site "northwest of the former house, which does not conflict with the cul-de-sac easement". However, no formal testing was ever completed to our knowledge, and no proposed design or system layout was ever provided to the City. 10) In the past year staff has received a number of calls from Mr. Palmer regarding his acquisition of the property. On October 30, 2008 a group of City staff inet with the City Engineer on the site to consider the possible locations of a cul-de- sac and septic sites in an attempt to gain first-hand knowledge of the property layout. At that time it was agreed that a future cul-de-sac would have the least impact on adjoining properties and result in the least removal of wooded area if it was located near where the house had been located. There was no evidence of septic testing on the site, and it was impossible without further testing to determine whether suitable site(s) far a mound system might exist. During that site inspection staff encountered Richard Phillips, the abutting owner to the southeast at 1170 Lyman, who indicated he also might consider purchase of part of the property to expand his 1.8 acre site, which had also lost land to MnDOT for Highway 12 right-of-way. 11) As will be noted on the attached drawings, a portion of Palmer's driveway loop is on the City parcel, a fact supportive of his acquisition of some part of the property. � i