11-27-1995 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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Eequest for Coundl Actioa Con&iutd page 2 of 3 NoTcmber 22, 1995 Assessment Hearing - Willow Drire Recoi ruction Project Because Municipal State Aid (MSA) roadway reconstruction projects have a specifically designated funding source that provides partial funding for the projects, the city has addressed the assessment issue a bit differently for MSA projects. Although the city has not developed a clear policy regarding the assessment of single family residential properties for MSA projects, the cii, of the costs of MSA roadway reconstruction projects. The general reasoning behind the assessment of commercial and industrial properties is that the MSA roads, which by definition serve as collector roadways; provide substantial benefits or services to the commercial and industrial properties. These include bringing traffic and customers to the properties, and providing roadways designed to handle the level of traltic and the heavier types of vehicles that serve the properties, or that are used oy the businesses, located on the commercial and industrial properties. Based on this policy, the properties adjacent to the project are proposed to be assessed for 25% of the project costs. Assessment Appeals If the assessments are adopted, the property owners will have a 30 day period in which to appeal the assessments. A letter is attached from Cliff Otten requesting the Council not to adopt the assessment related to his property, and indicating he plans to appeal the assessment. Mr. Otten’s letter focuses on the question of whether his property benefits from the project in terms of an increase in property value. The focus on increase in value is related to the court ruling that the amount of the assessment can not e.xceed the amount by which the property increises in value due to the project. Benefits to Adjacent Properties There are s everal important benefits to the adjacent properties provided by the Willow Drive roadway reconstruction project. These include; an upgraded roadway, improved access, and increased traffic. 1.Upgraded roadway. The Willow Drive project replaces a roadway that was narrow, in poor condition, and which had a 5 ton design which is inadequate to serve the needs of the adjacent properties; with a road constructed with a 10 ton design and widened to accommodate the level of traffic and to match the new signalized intersection. At the time the Otten development was approved, there was discussion that the then- existing 5 ton design road would not be adequate in the long term to handle the level and type of traffic generated by the development. In fact the road has been steadily deteriorating.