Adopt Ordinance #20-03 Vacating Drainage and Utility Easement Related to Riverstone 4th Addition

The purpose of this case is to vacate underlying drainage and utility easements related to Riverstone 4th Addition. This is a common process during the Final Plat stage of development, and the Final Plat approved at a previous City Council meeting includes standard drainage and utility easements across each individual property and stormwater ponding.

Staff attempted to notify all property owners within 700 feet via standard U.S. mail of the Public Hearing and published the Notice of Public Hearing in the Anoka County UnionHerald (previous meeting).

The City Council introduced the vacation of the underlying drainage and utility easements at their March 10, 2020 City Council meeting. This is the final step in vacating the underlying easement which will be replaced with new easements with Riverstone 4th Addition. The vacation of easements must be done via Ordinance per City Charter.

Alternative
Alternative 1: Adopt Ordinance #20-03.  This will vacate the underlying drainage and utility easements. Staff is supportive of this alternative.

Alternative 2: Deny Ordinance #20-03. This would not vacate the underlying drainage and utility easements, which are not currently needed due to the new easements on Riverstone 4th Addition Final Plat. Staff is not supportive of this alternative.

The Applicant is responsible for all costs associated with the request.

The Planning Commission recommends approval of this project. Staff recommends these actions to execute this recommendation.

Motion to waive the Charter requirement to read ordinance allow and adopt Ordinance #20-03 vacating drainage and utility easement.

Roll Call Vote

Councilmember Kuzma
Councilmember Heinrich
Councilmember Riley
Councilmember Musgrove
Councilmember Menth
Councilmember Specht
Mayor LeTourneau