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Cass Property Page 4 <br /> October 30, 1995 <br /> • The city has had soil borings and the soil analyzed for the future building <br /> sites and every indication is that the six building sites are suitable for the <br /> construction of a home. The city has an appraisal and real estate opinion <br /> completed for this property. The city has a recommendation from the Park <br /> and Recreation Commission from its 4/19/95 meeting that supports this <br /> purchase. The city has had a wetlands analysis completed which shows that <br /> any wetlands impacted by this project can be mitigated on site. The city has <br /> had a phase one and phase two environmental audit completed for this <br /> property and it appears that there are no contaminants or environmental <br /> issues that would restrict the city's use of this property. It should be noted <br /> that the city will request the residential lots to have deep wells constructed <br /> in order to minimize the nitrates that are in the soils from years and years of <br /> farming this area. <br /> The City Council should note the property that the city hopes to sell for real <br /> estate purposes is currently in the 2.5 acre residential zone of the city. This <br /> potentially could change with the adoption of the Comprehensive Plan <br /> update and with any zoning code or subdivision changes that may go along <br /> with the updated Comp Plan. Additionally, if this area is ultimately viewed <br /> as land that may be serviced by municipal sewer and water, this may change <br /> the scenario and the opinion of staff on the desirability of this transaction. If <br /> this project moves forward, the City Council ultimately would have to <br /> 4110 approve a plat for this property that may include a service drive or common <br /> driveway easements in order to limit the access onto 165th. Additionally, the <br /> city may want to identify building location pads for the lots to be sold and/or <br /> the type of structures that could be constructed on the property. These are <br /> decisions for the future if this project moves forward. The same is true as to <br /> deciding whether or not the city should be the real estate agent selling these <br /> properties or if we should just contract this out to professionals in the <br /> industry and have them market and sell the sites for the city. <br /> There are many reasons for the city to move forward with this project <br /> including the need for recreation fields, the need for additional sludge land, <br /> and the need for the city to be creative financially so that it is not a burden <br /> on the taxpayers or any of our funds to pursue the development of recreation <br /> fields. Some reasons to not do this project include the concerns over the <br /> future zoning, lot size requirements, and sewer and water in this area. Also, <br /> there is a concern about the city getting into the real estate business, but it <br /> should be noted that this is not the primary purpose for this land acquisition, <br /> but simply a by-product that the city is going to take advantage of in order to <br /> recapture some of its expenditures. <br /> The City Council needs to make a preliminary decision as to whether or not <br /> • we want to pursue this project. By authorizing the execution of the purchase <br /> agreement, the city runs the risk of losing $5,000 if we do not finalize this <br />