10.a Simpson Easement Relocation Request
Scandia, Minnesota
Jim’s cell: 612-770-2222
www.maxtreefarm.com
August 9, 2022
Scandia City Council members
Jim and Peg Simpson, owners of Max Tree Farm ask that you consider relocating the city owned
pedestrian easement within our land in Scandia. This will allow us to expand our tree fields onto
the land we purchased from Bruce and Janet Swenson.
Benefits of moving public easement:
• Leads to a public landing, (current easement is only 20’ wide at lakeshore), amenities at public
landing: parking, boat ramp, dock, posted rules, porta potty
• Length: changing from 1683’ to 3614’ long and .75 to 1.65 acres. Better walking experience, with
over 100% increase, which is a good thing for a public pedestrian walkway – at no cost to City
• Current pedestrian easement is a dead end at the lake, proposed allows access to other routes
• No wetland issues, no improvements needed - current easement would require an elevated trail
be built to be usable year-round (standing watering in wetland recorded for 5 months in 2021/22)
• Connects to dedicated bike route, Oldfield to Oakhill Roads
• We’ll likely establish fencing and field roads that are more practical for marking and designating
location of walkway - this will decrease trespassing problems
• Pedestrians can utilize Oldfield Ave dead end road: plowed in winter, pedestrian friendly
• This pedestrian only easement has no effect on bordering neighbors no effort from them to
change
• Wouldn’t it be great if someday Scandia had miles of walking paths? - this is a big opportunity
• It’s important for the City Council to consider the benefit to all 4,159 Scandia residents, not just
11 households on Olgilvie
About Max Tree Farm:
• Excellent reputation supplying shade trees to respected commercial and residential projects
• Long crop rotation of 12-15 years, minimizing negative impact on Goose Lake (vs. row crops)
• High quality trees that are meticulously cared for, along with the land they grow on
• MTF started in 2006 in Scandia and has high respect in the industry and with neighbors
• Recent sale of our Nolan Avenue farm broke the sales record in Scandia by more than 2X, and
three historical barns were saved
Thank you for your consideration. We hope you consider this a reasonable solution. If the
easement isn’t relocated, we’ll need to consider other development or sale options for the land
besides our tree farm business.
Jim and Peg Simpson
Enclosure: Map with easement change indicated
Bike Route map