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Shopek's plan also provided for RCWD's removal of the floodplain easement in light of a 1999 change in the floodplain, which removed most of Sheehy's property from the floodplain. The city moved in limine to exclude Shopek's opinion, arguing that testimony on the RCWD's potential removal of the floodplain easement was speculative, and that because the proposed engineering plan was hypothetical, it did not relate to the actual benefit conferred by the project. The district court permitted Shopek's testimony, but limited its use to foundation for Herman's appraisal. Shopek testified that without the city's new lots added to the project, it would not have been necessary from an engineering standpoint to "loop" the water line extended to Sheehy's property to connect it in more than one direction. He suggested a less - expensive plan that would have connected sanitary sewer and water to Sheehy's property by bringing those connections along 21st Avenue to the south end of the property. He also testified that, after the floodplain elevation was revised in 1999, "just a small sliver" of Sheehy's property remained in the floodplain. He testified that he estimated that the City of Lino Lakes, which adjoins Sheehy's property on its east side, would likely contribute $59,000 to fund a portion of the proposed infrastructure, so that its total cost to the city would be approximately $135,000. Herman testified regarding her appraisal. She opined that, based in part on the property's location outside the floodplain, its highest and best use both before and after the project was as commercial property. She used vacant properties with existing infrastructure improvements as comparables. To arrive at a pre - project value, she used a value of $7.25 per square foot. She then deducted $135,000 for constructing the 4 17