03-12-07 Item 7D, Resolution 07-34 Final Plat at Lake Johanna Woods

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February 16,2007 To: The Arden Hills City Council From: Arlene Boutin, MD Re: Lake Johanna Woods Subdivision A brief history of the property: I purchased the I 600 Lake Johanna Blvd property in 1975 and added the 3 wooded lots in 1984. The wooded lots provided a significant degree of privacy from the road and space for my boat and jet-ski storage during the winter months, Aside from the privacy and storage value, the wooded lots added to the ambience and curb appeal of my property, In 1988, following a divorce, I had the City engineer advise me that I had 3 buildable lots in the wooded area and I placed them for sale, Within 30 days, someone stole my for sale sign and I discovered I could get by without selling the lots, so I decided to hang on to the land. Since 1988, I have enjoyed the luxury of having a wooded area next to my home that was my own private property. The Siems Court Project: In 2006, I was contacted by the City engineer about a project that would re-route the storm drainage from Siems court on to my land, This project would require a NERP pond, designated wetlands and upgrade the run off process into Lake Johanna In order for all of this to happen, I was to give up the use, through easement, of a significant portion of my woodland. The trees, which had shielded my pool and backyard from the road, would be removed and the area I used to park my boat would become the NERP pond. Lake Johanna Woods Subdivision: If the City hadn't needed my land for the Siems Court drainage project, there wouldn't be a Lake Johanna Woods Subdivision. Since the drainage project required that the vast majority of the woods be removed, I decided the property had lost its value as a buffer to the road and I planned to sell two of the building lots, Public Use Dedication: "Therefore, in addition to the dedications required by Subd, I, the developer of a parcel of land shall dedicate to the public for use as parks, playgrounds, trails, wetlands or open space, a reasonable percentage of the tract to be developed,"