5.2. SR 08-09-2004 - Laserfiche WebLink

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July 2, 2004 File: 230000M-0325 Honorable Mayor and City Council City of Elk River 13065 Orono Parkway Elk River, MN 55330 RE: RIDGES OF RICE LAKE HOMEOWNER'S ASSOCIATION REQUEST TO PAY 221sT AVENUE Dear Council Members: Attached is a letter from Mr. Dave Steiner, President of the Ridges of Rice Lake Homeowners' Association. As I am sure you are aware, Ridges of Rice Lake is the clustered neighborhood being developed on the north side of 221st Avenue between CSAH 1 and TH 169. Mr. Steiner's letter requests that the City pave the remaining portion of 221st Avenue, which is approximately a half- mile of gravel road between the main entrance to Ridges of Rice Lake going easterly to approximately the abandoned railroad trail. To fully consider this request from the Homeowners' Association of Ridges of Rice Lake, some background is necessary. Staff would offer the follow comments and thoughts for the Council's consideration: City Council has had no financial involvement in paving the portions of 221st Avenue between TH 169 and CSAH 1 that are currently paved. The developers of Ridges of Rice Lake paved the portion of 221st Avenue from Ridges of Rice Lake to the west to CSAH 1. It should be noted that it was not a requirement of the plat, but a request of the developers, that they be allowed to pave that portion of 221st Avenue for marketing purposes. The easterly portion of 221st Avenue from TH 169 to approximately the abandoned railroad bed was paved by the gravel mining operations in the area. This paving was done at their expense, in conjunction with working with the City staff. At the time of the initial development of the Ridges of Rice Lake plat, the developers indicated that they had plans in the future to develop more property to the east. As properties to the east were developed, it was anticipated by City staff that there would be a requirement of any development to pave the remaining portion of 221st Avenue. To date, there has been no indication that further developments along 221st Avenue will be forthcoming. Currently, the City has approximately 15 miles of gravel roads. Although the Street Department and Engineering Department would like to have no gravel roads, it is not economically possible for the City to take on the burden of paving this many miles of road. There is an ongoing maintenance cost to maintain a relatively short stretch of gravel roadway at the City's extreme north end of town. Paving the gravel portion of 221st Avenue would reduce the maintenance costs incurred for that roadway. J:\DOCUME~l\tmaurer\LOCALS~l\Temp\e9\Ltr-070204-Council.doc