Recommend Park Dedication Resolution for Remaining Northfork Development; Case of Northfork, Inc.

At the Commission's October 10th regular meeting, a review occured of the August 13th public workshop examining the potential of some or all of Outlot E, MOORS ADDITION (associated with the Northfork Subdivision) to be developed as a park owned by maintained by the City. The Commission noted that, Outlot E is approximately 37 acres, and the Outlot is identified as Future Park in the Master Park and Trail Plan and zoned as Park.

There were two (2) components to consider relative to Park Dedication for Northfork, Inc.

1. The City approved a deferred Park Dedication contribution for previously approved portions of Northfork. The deferred contribution equates to two (2) acres.  Additionally, there was within a previous agreement the acknowledgement that in any future land use, the City would receive at a minimum, from North Fork Inc., a 50' corridor from Alpine Drive to the existing city park approximately 800' feet to the north.

2. Northfork, Inc. desires to construct, or sell for development, approximately 21 to 31 new lots on undeveloped portions of  Northfork's holdings on either side of Alpine Drive. The land equivalent for Park Dedication is approximately 3.35 acres.

The City has been approached by Northfork, Inc. to consider accepting land dedication to satisfy Park Dedication and trail development fees in lieu of a cash contribution. Further, Northfork, Inc. desires to dedicate all of Outlot E, MOORS Addition to the city for park purposes, with appropriate cost accounting relative to the value of the land. 
 
After considerable discussion, and acknowledging that resident feedback generally favored park use for the area in question, the Commission's motion included a recommend that, negotiations occur between North Fork Inc. and the City on solutions and alternatives for satisfying existing Park Dedication obligations (land dedication), and future Park Dedication (land or cash), together with Trail Fee satisfaction—with the goal being to arrive on a public land configuration suitable for a community park southeast of Lake Itasca.




 

 

The discussions on conveying the aforementioned land to the city for park purposes occurred, and an agreement has been reached, subject to Park and Recreation Commission concurrence, and a recommendation to City Council.

In summary, after factoring previous Park Dedication (land) that had been deferred, and future Park Dedication and Trail Fees that will be owed to the city upon platting land presently owned by Northfork Inc., the agreement pencils-out with the city receiving all of the 37-acre Outlot E Moors Addition for park, with a $75,000 payment by the City to Northfork Inc. to compensate for the differences between Park Dedication obligations and land valuation. The 'new' park space proposed is shown as Outlot E, on the attachment entitled Outlot Exhibit.
 

The $75,000 in cash required to be paid by the City, after reconciling for the development fees owed, past and future, would be from the Park Trust Fund, monies derived from development in the form of Park Dedication (cash payments).

It is important to point out, that the City accepted 4+ acres immediately southeast of Outlot E to satisfy Park Dedication from a different developer several years ago—with the intention that this land be sold, with the proceeds to be placed into the Park Trust Fund to ultimately provide for the necessary monies to acquire the community park this case discusses.  This 4-acre outlot is presently listed for sale, with the county assessed value at $86,800. The attachment entitled '4-acre parcel' shows its location.
 

Staff recommends the approval of the Park Dedication agreement in concept, as detailed in the attachment entitled NF Inc. proposal.
 

Motion to recommend to City Council that, a purchase agreement be entered into to satisfy past and future Park Dedication obligations as outlined in the attachment entitled NF Inc. proposal, for the establishment of a community park southeast of Lake Itasca.