HomeMy WebLinkAboutRe: parking lot TO: Ronald J. Moorse, City Administrator
FROM: John R. Gerhardson, Public Works Director
DATE: August 22, 1994
SUBJECT: Navarre Parking Lot Public Access
The City of Orono owns and maintains the Navarre parking lot. There are three entrances/exits
to and from the parking lot. One of those entrance/exists is located at the west end of the
parking lot and has a narrow access (15') easement to Counry Road 15.
Over the years there has been encroachment on to private property. The property owners are
requesting the City to purchase the area that is being used by the public.
The area in question amounts to approximately 2,900 s.f. We have offered $1.00 per s.f. for
the land. The property owners have rejected that amount and are suggesting an amount in line
with a settlement for an easement acquisition from Hennepin County in 1989 for the County
Road 15 upgrade project. The amount they received from Hennepin County for 1,497 s.f. of
permanent easement and 655 s.f. of temporary easement was $14,000.00.
In a letter from one of the owners, they have indicated that we compensate them in line with the
compensation they received from Hennepin County. It should be noted that the settlement with
Hennepin County was the result of condemnation proceedings..
Because of the vast difference between what we have offered and their counteroffer, we may
want to pursue other options.
1. We may want the City Attorney to review the matter to determine whether or not
we have rights of adverse possession because of the public use in excess of
twenty years.
2. We may want to restrict the access to one way reducing the need for a wider
access.
3. We may want to close the access and direct all traffic to the other two accesses.
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