As the City Council may recall, at the January 25, 2011 regular City Council meeting, the Cross of Hope Addition final plat was approved, contingent upon several items, including the sale of City-owned land to Cross of Hope Lutheran Church. The parcel, which is approximately 0.45 acres (fifty [50] feet wide by 394 feet long), was originally deeded to the City in 1983 for a future service road as a requirement of the church's original site plan approval. A service road is no longer considered necessary along 179th Lane. Additionally, the Plat does dedicate sufficient drainage and utility easement and right of way to satisfy City Code subdivision design standards and Anoka County standards for right of way width.

In addition, the City is the owner of a permanent easement on a parcel adjacent to the fifty (50) foot wide parcel above described. The City needs to retain a portion of its easement in order to accommodate a full sixty foot right-of-way for adjacent 179th Lane NW. However, the balance of this easement is no longer necessary for right-of-way purposes and should be released to the underlying property owner, which is Cross of Hope Lutheran Church. As with a portion of the fifty (50) foot parcel above described, the Cross of Hope Addition Plat will dedicate the requisite amount of land for 179th Lane NW. Upon recording of the Plat, staff recommends that the City release the permanent easement by Quit Claim Deed to Cross of Hope Lutheran Church as at that time the requisite right of way will be dedicated in the Plat. 

 

A sketch showing the respective parcels referenced in the above paragraphs is attached.

 

It appears that the fifty (50) foot parcel was conveyed to the City as a requirement of site plan approval in the early 1980s. Considering this, City Staff would recommend introducing the ordinance authorizing the sale of real property (the 50 foot parcel) for $1.00 and other good and valuable consideration. Staff further recommends that the City’s permanent easement be conveyed to the Church upon filing of the Plat which will dedicate the requisite right of way for 179th Lane NW.