HomeMy WebLinkAbout1976 06-02 Maplewood oks condemnation THE REVIEW For park land— 2;/q'7(7
Maplewood oks condemnation
by Kamy Lde expressed a desire in obtaining additional survey of the land.
Condemnation proceedings,in an affort land in the area. On March 29,the survey was forwarded
to acquire more land for the Michael Lane In December of 1975, the cemetery to the cemetery association,and the city
Nature Center,will be initiated against association was asked to dedicate a indicated that the south shoreline, con-
the Union Cemetery Association, the permanent easement of 1.43 acres and to tinguous to the cemetery's north fen-
Maplewood council decided 5-0 last "refrain from changing the existing celine,would be held as a preserve for the
Thursday night. topography and natural growth and purpose of replanting it and attempting to
The council feels that the Cemetery permit the City of Maplewood to make use re-establish the growth most recently cut
property, which abuts the park, is of said area as a part of the Michael Lane down.
necessary to complement the park. Nature Center,"according to a written It would be the city's ultimate intention
Officials from the Cemetery background report presented at the to establish a pathway through the area to
Association have been asking for$213,182 council's recent session. provide access to the proposed nature
per acre, according to City Manager The report also says that"In response, center building.
Michael Miller, and are seeking more staff would recommendosayst tot the planning Ata May 10 meeting of the city attorney
than $300,000 for the 1.4 acres mostand cemetery association officials,
desired by the council. Commission and city council favorable negotiations again fell apart. The
The city staff was directed to take consideration of the special use and cemetery association said it would trade
action to obtain that 1.4 acres and up to preliminary plat for cemetery purposes." 1.05 acres for equal city property adjacent
also broughtdispute over
five acres of the Cemetery association Decemberto the cemetery.The offer was valid only
land "to achieve the purposes in city cemetery association removal of trees in until May 17,when staff recommendation
plans for the Michael Lane Nature the area, which the city feared would rejection of the proposal and initiation of
Center." destroy the park's nearby pond. condemnation proceedings.
A counter offer was presented Jan.14,
Mayor Robert Bruton indicated the city 1976, by the cemetery association;
"can ask for five and work down."The Alternative 1 proposed a trade of 1.43
council's action concurred with the staff's acres of cemetery land for an equal
recommendation. amount of city property within the
Unanimous council approval narked Michael Lane Nature Center,or Alter-
another step in over six months of native 2,sale of the 1.43 acres to the city
discussion and debate between the city for$304,850,the land's present value as
and the cemetery association. grave sites.
City staff was directed in November, The written report,presented May 27,
1975 to "pursue possible methods of said"It was the staff's opinion that the
acquisition"of land on the southeast side counter-proposal comprised a rejection of
of Michael Lane pond. That action all negotiations to that point."
followed a cemetery association request In March, the cemetery association
for a special use permit and preliminary expressed renewed interest in reaching
plat for a cemetery on a 20-acre parcel an agreement in the dispute,requesting
adjacent to the present cemetery the top of the bank in the area be
development.The cemetery association established as a boundary between the
request was tabled for six months as the cemetery and the nature center.City staff
city Parks and Recreation Commission agreed with the request and ordered a