HomeMy WebLinkAbout07L DNR Conservation Easement Request for Ravine Parkway Project
CITY OF COTTAGE GROVE, MINNESOTA
CITY COUNCIL
RESOLUTION 2018-064
A RESOLUTION AFFIRMING THAT 0.33 ACRES OF PROPERTY LOCATED
IN THE CITY OF COTTAGE GROVE IS NECESSARY FOR THE
CONSTRUCTION OF RAVINE PARKWAY AND AUTHORIZING THE
APPROPRIATE OFFICIALS TO REQUEST THAT IT BE REMOVED FROM THE
DNR CONSERVATION EASEMENT
WHEREAS, the City of Cottage Grove has been planning the construction of a scenic
roadway in the northern portion of the community for over a decade, to be known as Ravine
Parkway, which would connect new residential developments through an environmentally
friendly route with trails and natural landscaping; and
WHEREAS, the construction of Ravine Parkway fulfills a public purpose of providing
adequate public access to an area of the City that is currently underserved; and
WHEREAS, the City Council recently approved the plans and specifications for the
Ravine Parkway Project, a portion of which will be located between Jamaica Avenue and Keats
Avenue; and
WHEREAS, due to property constraints with existing easements, Ravine Parkway must
connect to Keats Avenue at a very specific location, which includes a portion of real property
that is encumbered by a Conservation Easement owned by the Minnesota Department of Natural
Resources (“DNR”); and
WHEREAS, in spite of numerous attempts to locate the intersection of Ravine Parkway
and Keats Avenue to alternative sites and attempts to minimize Ravine Parkway’s impact on the
Conservation Easement, there still exists an overlap between the location of Ravine Parkway
and the Conservation Easement that is 0.33 acres in size; and
WHEREAS, the City Council supports requesting that the DNR amend the Conservation
Easement so as to remove the 0.33 acres from the Conservation Easement, the area of which
is depicted on the attached map; and
WHEREAS, a temporary construction easement will also be necessary in order to con-
struct Ravine Parkway and in spite of numerous attempts to locate the impacted portions of the
construction for Ravine Parkway and Keats Avenue to alternative sites and attempts to minimize
its impact on the Conservation Easement, there still exists an overlap between the location of
the temporary construction easement area and the Conservation Easement that is 0.7 acres in
size.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, by the City Council of the City of Cottage Grove,
Washington County, Minnesota as follows:
1. The Council finds that the construction of Ravine Parkway fulfills a public purpose
by providing safe and adequate public access to an area of the City that is currently
underserved; and
City of Cottage Grove, Minnesota
City Council Resolution 2018-064
Page 2 of 2
2. The Council further finds that 0.33 acres of land which overlaps the DNR Con-
servation Easement is necessary for the construction of Ravine Parkway; and
3. The City Council respectfully requests that the DNR amend the Conservation
Easement so that the 0.33 acres needed for Ravine Parkway is removed from the
DNR Conservation Easement; and
4. The City Council authorizes the appropriate City Staff to assist the DNR in seeking
approval from the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources, the
Minnesota Management and Budget Office, and another other agencies,
committees or commissions necessary in order to amend the Conservation
Easement to remove the 0.33 acres from the Conservation Easement, as well as
to allow for the activities contemplated by the temporary construction easement;
and
5. The City Council further authorizes City Staff to ask the DNR, the Legislative-
Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources, and the Minnesota Management
and Budget Office to consent to a 0.7-acre temporary construction easement on a
parcel within the Conservation Easement that is bounded by the 0.33-acre partial
easement release area (new ROW of Ravine Parkway) to the south, and Keats
Avenue South to the east. The temporary construction area shall be planted with
prairie grasses and restored to the Conservation Easement at the close of
construction.
Passed this 2nd day of May, 2018.
Myron Bailey, Mayor
Attest:
Joseph Fischbach, City Clerk