Laserfiche WebLink
The properties owned by MIV in Area S are suhstantially leased, viable office/industrial <br />properties, and are not "blighted" properties in any respect. They are nat heavy industrial <br />ar"truck terminal" properties, and current uses of the properties are not inconsistent with <br />a nearby residential development in any respect. Two low-level oiiice buildings, together <br />with a topographic and vegetati�e buffer, facilitate compatibility with the abutting <br />residential praperties to the north of Area $. MIV has had no complaints frozn its <br />resid�ntial neighbors whil� it has awned these buildings. The buildings within Area 8 <br />house approximately 81 well-payi�g jobs which would be eliminated upan <br />redevelopment of the praperties as housing. <br />The sarne is true in varying degrees, for all of MIV prop�rties in Twin Lakes. The <br />current uses are consistent with existing zaning. Although the comprehensive pIan calls <br />�Q?' PVelltl.ial 1'�Z^Rl;la O�.t�':?S L1F��L1'tV, ��18 �'1�V r"€`�S �JieV1C'.':'S1V c`!�:'L'0C� V4'it}1 �jle 0�.�'i1°iS C`� <br />MN that tne properties shoulci not be rezaned in accordance with the com�rehensive <br />plan unless and until market forces drive redevelopment of the property. Any prior <br />rezaning would result in significant economic deirimeni to the property owners by reason <br />of inability to attract long-term tenants and compeEitive financing. <br />Further, in t�e request for City Council action presented to the Council on January 10, <br />2pOS, staff recagnized that "The cost af creating or acquiring new industrial and truck <br />terminal sites that meet all current operationai and regulatory requirements is [zz�ore� <br />expensive than mai�tainrng existi:ng "grandfat�ered" industriaI sites. Th�refor�, th� <br />existing sites are valuable for trucking." Staff also noted that, "The City nf RosevilIe (by <br />policy) owns no land within the Twin Lakes Redevelopment Area and must rely on the <br />market and private sectar development companies and land owners to reclaim and <br />construct the new Twin Lakes neighborhood." <br />Spending public dollars to acqt�ire viable existing office and industrial properties, thereby <br />eliminating substantial numbers of jobs, prior to those properties becoming obsoIete by <br />reason o� market forc�s is nnt an eff�ctive use af public dollars. The prapnsed <br />redeveloper, Rottlund, cancedes that the price of acc�uiring the MIV properties, and <br />redeveloping them as housing, puts a financial st��ain on the proposed Twin Lakes project. <br />Sarely-needed public dallars would be spent to eIimir�ate 81 jobs, while leaving the <br />existing uses in place is nat detrimental to the success af the rest of the praject. Aside <br />from being highIy-questionable publac policy, a taking of the MIV properties likely <br />would nnt pass cnnstitutional muster, and MIV would vigor�usly defend any atternpted <br />talcing on constitutional grounds. As your City Attarney is aware, judicial Iaw is s�ifting <br />to provide significantly mare prateetion ta private property owners when public bodies <br />are taking private praperty for redevelapment by other private parties. <br />T�erefore, the owners respectfully request that the current plan and pe�ding <br />r�development agreement for Twin Lakes P�ase I and for future Phases be modified to <br />eIiminate any refer�nce to candemnation of the MIV properties. As you are aware, the <br />mere reference in the plan to condemnation of these properties wilI result in significant <br />econamic loss to MIV, by rea�on of inability to attract long-term tenants and competitive <br />Northco Rea[ Lstate- Se��i�ices 2 ��� <br />Grui�b&Ellis �. <br />'190� Viki��7 Drir•�e Mim�capoiis. MN 55435-53I� 9i?.820.1606 95?.821}.].G20 f�ax I�ttp:llw°�v�v.nor€h�o.�;o��� �Kni�t�Fram� <br />` �ioea� : >. <br />Inrlepc�nrlrnlh� Un�rred rnrd Opernred � -. -. . . <br />