Adopt Ordinance #22-01 Vacating Portions of Dolomite Street Right-of-Way and Drainage and Utility Easement at 6650 Highway 10 (Project No. 22-100); Case of City of Ramsey

In support of the Ramsey Gateway Highway 10 Plan, Dolomite Street, between Riverdale Drive and Highway 10, has been removed.  However, the public road right-of-way still exists.  By adopting Ordinance #22-01, the public road right-of-way will be officially vacated.  Per State Statute, that land is to be equally divided amongst the adjacent parcels, which are 6650 and 6710 Highway 10 (the "Subject Properties").  One of the two adjacent parcels is owned by the City and is currently vacant (6710 Highway 10).  Due to the current configuration, it poses some challenges to redevelopment.  Thus, City Staff are also processing a Minor Plat concurrent with this ordinance that would still equally split the land between both adjacent parcels, but would also 'square off' both properties.  The Final Plat was approved on January 11, 2022 (Resolution #22-003) contingent upon adoption of Ordinance #22-01.

The City attempted to send a mailing via standard U.S. mail to property owners within 350 feet of the Subject Properties, as noted in the Anoka County Property Records, notifying them of the public hearing that the City Council held on January 11, 2022. The notice was also published in the Anoka County Union Herald.

Vacation of Right-of-Way
Dolomite Street has already been physically removed and thus, the public road right-of-way is no longer needed.  When public road right-of-way is vacated, the land is to be equally split and attached to the adjacent properties.  The right-of-way consists of about 20,247 square feet.  Therefore, the Subject Properties will each gain about 10,124 square feet (~0.23 acres).  There are no utilities within the right-of-way.

Vacation of Drainage and Utility Easement
There are existing ten (10) foot drainage and utility easements along the western boundary of 6650 Highway 10 and the eastern boundary of 6710 Highway 10.  Ideally, both would be vacated along with the right-of-way.  However, based on the locates that were performed, there is existing Centerpoint and CenturyLink infrastructure in the drainage and utility easement along the eastern boundary of 6710 Highway.  So, that easement will remain for now (if/when that parcel is developed, those utilities will need to be relocated, presumably into the new easement created with this plat, at the developer's expense, and the easement could then be vacated).  While the locates did not indicate any utilities within the western drainage and utility easement on 6650 Highway, Staff has requested utility maps through the locate system, which would definitively indicate whether any utilities are present.  Assuming none are present, Staff is proposing this easement be vacated (we should have this information no later than January 7, 2022).

Minor Plat
A Minor Plat has been prepared that will reconfigure the Subject Properties, creating more regularly shaped parcels.  Both parcels will gain about 10,124 square feet.  6650 Highway 10 is approximately 57,447 square feet and, after completion of the vacation and recording of the plat, will be approximately 67,571 square feet (~1.55 acres).  6710 Highway 10 is approximately 53,848 square feet and, after completion of the vacation and recording of the plat, will be approximately 63,971 square feet (~1.47 acres). 

The realignment of the new, shared property boundary between the Subject Properties, squares them off and provides more flexibility for potential development of 6710 Highway 10.  Drainage and utility easements will be dedicated along the new common boundary line as well as along the western boundary of 6710 Highway 10 (none exists there currently).

Alternatives

Alternative 1: Adopt Ordinance #22-01 vacating road right-of-way and a portion of drainage and utility easement on 6650 Highway 10 NW.  The segment of Dolomite Street has been physically removed in support of the Ramsey Gateway Highway 10 plan and the remaining right-of-way is no longer needed.  The plat reconfigures the two lots adjacent to the right-of-way and creates more flexibility for development of the vacant parcel (6710 Highway 10 NW).  Staff supports this alternative.

Alternative 2: Do not adopt Ordinance #22-01.  If the Ordinance is not adopted, this segment of right-of-way remains with no apparent purpose and the Final Plat reconfiguring the two adjacent lots would be rendered null and void.  Staff does not support this alternative. 

 

The City is responsible for all costs involved in the vacation process as well as the Minor Plat.

City Staff recommends adopting Ordinance #22-01 vacating the Dolomite Street road right-of-way between Riverdale Drive and Highway 10 and a portion of drainage and utility easement on 6650 Highway 10.

Motion to waive the Charter requirement to read the ordinance aloud and adopt Ordinance #22-01 vacating a segment of Dolomite Street public road right-of-way and a portion of drainage and utility easement on 6650 Highway 10 NW.

Roll Call Vote:

Councilmember Heineman
Councilmember Woestehoff
Councilmember Riley
Councilmember Specht
Councilmember Musgrove
Councilmember Howell
Mayor Kuzma