HomeMy WebLinkAbout1976 08-11 Maplewood adopts Beam assessments THE REVIEW Maplewood adopts
Beam assessments
Assessments for improvements to or 25 cents per square foot.The southside
Beam Avenue in Maplewood were of Beam between Hazelwood and White
adopted, subject to additions and Bear will be assessed$843,000 for 1,896,000
corrections, by the Maplewood City square feet or 45 cents a square foot.
Council. Desai urged the council to consider
At a special meeting Tuesday,Aug.3, assessments which would reflect total lot
the council voted 3-1 to adopt the long- size or square footage as opposed to front
debated assessments. Residents of the foot assessments."The rationale of the
area may ask for the council to consider front foot method is that the property
their assessments individually at a owner with a larger area will have ad-
Tuesday,Aug.24 meeting designed for ditional costs of internal streets.When the
that purpose. areas on both sides of the street are
Mayor Robert Bruton explained the •easonablyclose,the front footage basis is
vote this week means it is the"current quite equitable.However,in the case of
council intent to proceed generally with Beam Avenue between Hazelwood and
the overall staff proposal" for Beam White Bear Avenue,the north side goes as
assessments. He indicated the council deep as 1,300 feet whereas the south side
may feel "some circumstances merit is only 300 to 600 feet deep.
individual consideration"and will discuss "In order to remedy this dispropor-
these at the coming meeting. tionate division the city has proposed that
Persons wishing such consideration are the north side bear five-eighths of the
to complete a written form available at costs and the southside bear the balance
city hall. of three-eighths,"Desai explained.
The 90-minute hearing held Tuesday He noted, "The City Council is stuck
night drew comments from a number of with a problem that requires the wisdom
residents objecting to what they feel are of King Solomon; their predecessors
unusually high and unfair assessments. spent the money and the incumbents now
Many commented the improvements to have to designate the property owners
Beam primarily benefit Maplewood Mall, who should now bear the costs."
but with other landowners paying the Desai also pointed out,"The ultimate
price of those improvements. test of fairness of assessments in the
The hearing involved two projects, impact the improvements have on the
Project 70-5,which included storm sewer market value of the property." He in-
and curb,water and sanitary sewer and dicated that the improvements are not
street improvements to Beam, from reflected in changes in the value of the
Hazelwood east to White Bear Avenue, property and that some owners would not
and Project 71-15,the same work,plus be able to pay assessments even if they
construction of a railroad bridge on sell their land.
Beam,from Hazelwood to Highway 61. Claton Parks, who shares Desai's
Assessments for the latter project were personal interest in the property at Beam
spread over all of Beam from 61 back to and Hazelwood,indicated assessment on
White Bear Avenue. the property will total about$120,000.He
The first project, Beam from said the land is valued at$81,000 by the
Hazelwood to White Bear Avenue,cost the county tax assessor."I'm not trying to kid
city$1,675,897.Of that figure,$500,000 in anybody and say that$81,000 is the actual
state aid was utilized with the remaining market value of that property.It could be
$1,175,679 to be assessed. more or less."He said he opposed such
In the second project, Beam from high assessment of land with "a ditch
Hazelwood to Highway 61,total cost was running through it."
$2,737,149,again with$500,000 paid with Parks said,"We strenuously oppose the
state aid money.The city agreed to pay
$1,344,583 with$892,565 to be assessed.Of assessments t the amounts as they
the figure to be assessed,$54,642.04 will exist.I know they have to be high,but
be paid by the city for city land. lord,not that high."
The second project breakdown sees It was noted at the meeting that the city
state aid paying 18.27 percent, attorney's office had at one time hired
assessments paying 32.61 percent and the appraisor Winfield Mitchell to examine
city paying 49.12 percent. the property and that his recom-
landowner Jack Desai, who owns a mendations are reflected in the
parcel at the junction of Beam and assessment plan originally adopted by the
Hazelwood with several other owners, city.
told the council of a cartoon,depicting Councilman John Greavu moved to
Citizen Smith leaving a message at the table the matter until Aug.19.Norman
mayor's office:"You tell the mayor that I Anderson seconded the motion.However,
got my street assessment and I'm op- Bruton and councilman Don Wiegert
posed to them paving it with gold."Desai voted against the measure and Greavu
added,"As far as these property owners and Anderson voted in favor of it,leaving
are concerned,Beam Avenue is not paved the council deadlocked. Councilman
with gold...it is paved with platinum." Burton Murdock did not attend the
Desai presented figures at the meeting session.
showing that Maplewood Mall with Wiegert then moved to adopt the
4,530,00 square feet will be assessed assessment roles,subject to additions and
$714,000 or 16 cents per square foot.The corrections. Norm Anderson said,
remainder of property north of Beam on "Apparently we have to do something,"
the northside of Beam between and joined Wiegert and Bruton in voting
Hazelwood and White Bear Avenue will be for that measure. Greavu was in op-
assessed$389,000 for 1,560,000 square feet position