6.2. SR 01-30-1995 - Laserfiche WebLink

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e e e MEMORANDUM TO: Pat Klaers, City Administrator FROM: Troy Langer, Planning Intern DATE: January 26, 1995 SUBJECT: Lions Park This memo describes a brief history of the initial acquisition and development plans for Lion's Park in Elk River. The park is located on the Southeast corner of School Street and Jackson Avenue. The Elk River Lion's Club owned land located within the Ridgewood East Second Addition that was set aside during the platting process in order to meet the Park Dedication requirements for that development. The land was donated to the Elk River Lion's Club in fulfillment of the Park Dedication requirements. The reason why the Elk River Lion's Club obtained Park Dedication land is unknown. On April18, 1983, the Elk River Lion's Club requested to rezone this parcel from R-1b (Single-Family) to R-3 (Multiple Family). The reason for the rezone request was in preparation to sell the parcel. The rezoning would make the property more marketable for potential buyers. Money, from the sale of the property, was intended be used for the park development of Lion's Park. The rezone request was approved by the City Council on April 18, 1983. Apparently, the Elk River Lion's Club attempted to develop the park but had been denied grant money from the State of Minnesota and therefore, did not posses the necessary funds to develop the park property. It was the Elk River Lion's Club intent to develop the park to be used by "people", without ball fields. On September 6, 1983, the City Administrator presented a proposed design of the park for the City Council to review. The plan was submitted for the LA WCON grant and it also incorporated ideas from the Lion's Club. During that Council meeting, the various items about the proposed plan for the park were discussed. On October 3, 1983, the City Administrator indicated that Mr. Bud Houlton has agreed to a $75,000 price for the 33 acres of land known as the "peat bog" (Lion's Park) and that a purchase agreement was being executed. On December 8th, 1983, a "Gift Agreement" document was signed. This document outlined Houlton Investment Company as the first party and the City of Elk River as the second party. In that document it stated that Houlton Investment Company shall gift to the City of Elk River land described in Exhibit "A" and Exhibit "B" parcels on December 30, 1984. The Exhibit "B" part of the gift contained a "right of reverter" if the property ever ceased to be used for public purposes. There was a twenty (20) year timeline from the date of the gift on the "right of reverter."