10-14-2002 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Based on the locations of the existing pipes under the railroad tracks and Crystal Bay Road the most logical location for stormwater ponding is on the western side of this area in the vicinity of .3435, 3445, and 3447 Crystal Bay Road. A review of the property value information, and the occupancy status of thf properties shows that these three properties are the lower value properties in the area and one of the houses is vacant. This vacant house is in very poor condition, is probably not worth remodeling, and will most likely be demolished and a new house built on this property. The property adjacent to the pipe under the railroad tracks is the lowest valued property w ith a very small house on it. However, this house is currently occupied and is in good condition. I have talked to the property owner about his possible interest in selling his property to the City to use for stormwater ponding purposes. He is not interested in selling his property. The valuation for tax purposes is only $58,000, but he just turned down an offer of $150,000 for the sale of his property. He has evaluated the replacement housing that is available near Lake Minnetonka, and there is not anything with a comparable location that is affordable for the money he could get selling his property. He likes his location, close to the lake, with the railroad embankment adjacent *o his property as it is a rather wooded and secluded site. His long term plan is to expand the house and continue to live on the property. He would like to see a stormwater pond located on the property at 3445 Cry stal Bay Road which currently has a vacant house on it. We have also discussed the possibility of acquisition of the property, located at 3435 Crystal Bay Road with the property owner, and he is also not interested in selling his property, as he enjoys the location on the lake and wants to continue to live on the property. The house on this property is in reasonably good shape. He also suggested the possibility of a pond on the property with the vacant house. This vacant house is in a dilapidated condition and the neighbors would like to see this house removed as soon as possible. They understand that there are issues with the lakeshore ownership that has put the application process on hold for the possible redevelopment of this property, but they do not want to wait for these issues to be resolved before the existing vacant house is removed. We are currently evaluating the condition of the vacant house for hazardous building issues. The Police Depa.tment has also expressed concerns about the safety of this vacant house as these vacant buildings tend to be an attractive nuisance. The issue of stormwater ponding anywhere close to Lake Minnetonka is going to be a very expensive and diftlcult problem as very few property owners are going to be readily willing to give up lakeshore property for stormwater ponding purposes. The possible acquisition of the property, at 3445 Crystal Bay Road, with the vacant house may be worth investigating further. According to the I Icnnepin County tax records, this property w as purchased by Ace Properties, in September of 2001, for $270,000. However, the tax records indicate that this “Sale was Excluded from Assessment Analysis,” so the relationship between this sale price and the actual property value may not be entirely valid. The total market property valuation, as of January 2. 2002. which was used for the 2002 tax purposes was $215,500 (Land- $205,000. Building- $10,500). If there is any interest in investigating the possible acquisition of this property by the City, the next step would be to have an appraiser complete a valuation study for this property. Page 3 of 4