04-20-2011 Council Minutes Local Board of Appeal & Equalization

Home Browse Search

• MINUTES OF THE ORONO 2011 LOCAL BOARD OF APPEAL AND EQUALIZATION Wednesday, April 20, 2011 7:00 o'clock p.m. Mack indicated he does not know whether there will be any other moisture problems since it takes a number of years for the problem to show up. Mack stated the fact that he did have water and mold danger will be a detriment even though it is has fixed because he has to disclose that there was a problem. Bremer commented she owns a stucco house and that they had their stucco house water tested before they purchased it. Bremer stated there is also a sensor that can be utilized, which tests the water content of the gypsum board. Bremer suggested Mr. Mack consider having his house tested if he feels there is still a problem and then provide that information to the assessor's office. McMillan noted the assessor's office will take another look at Mr. Mack's property Stulc noted that Friday will be the earliest that he will be able to call the residents in attendance. 3. JOHN BESSESEN, 4500 NORTH SHORE DRIVE, PID #07- 117 -23 -31 -0030 Bessesen stated he has resided at this house since 1976 and that his family originally constructed the house. The house, with the land, cost approximately $120,000 at the time it was constructed. Bessesen indicated his wife is a former school teacher and that she is now currently retired. The house has been paid off for approximately 15 years. The taxes were more than the mortgage and PIP since about 1982. • The property sits on County Road 19 and is located below the road. The assessor says that there is a little more than an acre of land, but about two- thirds of that land extends out into Lake Minnetonka. Bessesen questioned what his FAR would be since it is not an acre. Bessesen indicated he does have some discomfort due to the fact that if he sells the house, which is valued at $169,000 and the land at 145,000, that he has quite a bit of money sitting in real estate that cannot be developed. Bessesen indicated he would like to speak to the assessor about this situation. Bessesen showed the Council an aerial view of the property depicting the lakeshore. Franchot asked if the concern is that the effective land that is usable has become overvalued. Bessesen indicated his concern is that his acreage is under the City's minimum and that he may not be allowed to rebuild in the event that became necessary. The property is already over the City's hardcover limits. Bessesen indicated he appeared before the City Council in 2002 when a developer had built a series of houses up the street on Tonkaview. At that time no one ever bothered to get a permit for the water runoff that might come on to his property. He had approximately two feet of water coming into his yard every time there was a one inch rainfall. The City said they would fix it and they bought a piece of property up on the corner. A drainage pond was created so it would not drain into his property. Bessesen indicated it cost him $35,000 to fix the damage to his house because he had mold everywhere and had to replace half of his house. The City said they would give him $5,000 and that he would have to sue if he was not satisfied with that amount. Bessesen indicated his house is on the tax rolls for $169,000, which is a pretty fair price. The land is not an acre, sits below the road, and there is a guard rail located further down on the property. Occasionally Page 5