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9.b Report on transfer of Outlot A in Big Marine EstatesSCANDIIA Staff Report Date of Meeting: August 7, 2018 To: Planning Commission From: Neil Soltis, Administrator Re: Request from Washington County to transfer Outlot A of Big Lakes Estates to County for inclusion in the Big Marine Park Reserve Background: When Big Lake Estates was platted in 1973 Outlot A (outlined in blue below) was deeded to the Town of New Scandia to fulfill the requirements for open space on the plat. In 1988 the County Board of Commissioners designated an area needed for future public use as the Big Marine Park Reserve which includes Outlot A. The County has acquired property over time and as a stipulation of the designation, the Town (now City) is required to deny every application to construct a new building or structure in order to provide the County an opportunity to acquire the property. In Scandia, the County currently owns the parcels to the north and south of Outlot A and is working to purchase the 3 lots across Margo from Outlot A. The nearby County -owned parcels and proposed acquisition are shown in green on the aerial map below: %tiwly.mwr VOW, Sol _. .. 4 �rw• a�.:� N�MfM���Mf Outlot A is 2.42 acres with roughly 1.4 acres above the ordinary high way mark. As shown in yellow on the map below, almost all of the parcel is identified in the National Wetland Inventory map which limits it use for recreational purposes. Minnesota Statutes require that no publicly owned interest in real property within the municipality shall be acquired or disposed of, nor shall any capital improvement be authorized by the municipality or special district or agency thereof or any other political subdivision having jurisdiction within the municipality until after the planning agency has reviewed the proposed acquisition, disposal, or capital improvement and reported in writing to the governing body or other special district or agency or political subdivision concerned, its findings as to compliance of the proposed acquisition, disposal or improvement with the comprehensive municipal plan. The Planning Commission reviewed the request at its August 7 meeting and determined that the transfer to the County for inclusion into the Big Marine Park Reserve would be consistent with the Comprehensive Plan. Excerpts from the City of Scandia 2008 — 2030 Comprehensive Plan that support the decision include the following: The System Statement describes the two existing regional parks, Big Marine Park Reserve and William O'Brien State Park. Other public and private recreational areas are noted in the System Statement, including local parks and fields, county -owned land, the Falls Creek Scientific Natural Area, and the planned Glacial Hills Trail at the City's southeast border with Maine on St. Croix (see below). The City's park priorities, identified in the 2006 Comprehensive Parks, Trails, Open Space, and Recreation Plan, address Scandia's regional park assets and recommend steps to enhance their functional use by managing land use, further developing City and regional trail systems, and adding new recreational amenities in or near these regional parks. The Metropolitan Council's 2005 Regional Parks Capital Improvement Program identified several priority acquisitions in 2006-7 to expand Big Marine Park Reserve, and a project scheduled for 2010-11 to develop a campground and related facilities in Big Marine Park Reserve. These investments will likely result in increased use of Big Marine Park Reserve and will enhance the recreational value of trail connections or other local park and open space efforts connecting to the Reserve. Parks & Trails Goal 2 in the Plan Develop a close working relationship with other agencies and groups to enhance the parks and recreation facilities and develop trails and routes in the City. PT Goal 10: Since the adoption of the 2006 Parks, Trails, and Open Space Plan, Scandia has become an incorporated city and taken a greater responsibility for its own green infrastructure. The City will continue to work closely with Washington County, the Metropolitan Council, and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources on more detailed planning efforts to insure that the regional green infrastructure system is designed in a manner compatible with existing and planned development in the City. Additionally Park priorities in the Plan include the expansion of the Big Marine Park Reserve along with a map of Park and Recreation Search Areas that shows Outlot A as being included in the Big Marine Park Reserve. The transfer was on the agenda for the Parks & Recreation Committee meeting on August 6 but that meeting did not occur due to the lack of a quorum. Issue: Should Outlot A of Big Lake Estates be transferred to Washington County as a part of the Big Marine Park Reserve? Proposal Details: See the letter from Washington County that follows. Options: 1. Authorize the Mayor and staff to execute the documents necessary for the transfer 2. Defer action on the request pending review of the terms related to the transfer 3. Defer action for recommendation from the Parks & Recreation Committee 4. Deny the County's request for the transfer Recommendation: Option 1 Washington '.:� County July 12, 2018 Mr. Neil Soltis City Administrator City of Scandia 14727 209th Street N. Scandia, MN 55073 Re: Parcel: Outlot A, Big Lake Estates Owner: City of Scandia PID: 32.032.20.44.0003 Dear Mr. Soltis: Public Works Department Parks Division Donald J. Theisen, P.E. Director Wayne H. Sandberg, P.E. Deputy Director/County Engineer Washington County has been acquiring land for inclusion into its Big Marine Park Reserve for many years. Outlot A Big Lake Estates is located along the eastside of Big Marine Lake, is within the Big Marine Park Reserve Master Plan and is surrounded by parcels currently owned by Washington County. As we move forward with our future planning, we would very much like to include this parcel as part of that planning and believe it would be very beneficial to incorporate it formally into the Big Marine Park Reserve. Therefore, we are requesting for the City of Scandia to consider transferring Outlot A, Big Lake Estates to Washington County for public use within Big Marine Park Reserve. Thank you for your consideration and support in moving the development of this park forward. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me. Sincerely, Sandy Breuer V Parks Director Attachment — Parcel Map 17495 Manning Trail, Marine, MN 55047 Phone: 651-430-8200 • Fax: 651-430-8205 wwwco.washington.mn.us Equal Employment Opportunity / Affirmative Action Washington := County 1\ 3,,6 80 O N M 'CO � 32p•21 N � N Ab - 340 f o h ..:,fit: .r. . o 'n X90>S •',�� M 44� 66 44j66 3,3 SS 28S �� 460 '6546 .d 32032204- - rb y Sy 07 461 (0005) O �' 541.3$ 6 41.65 ,U ... 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