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HomeMy WebLinkAbout20071203 - VII-3/VIII-B-3November 29, 2007 VII-3 TO: The Honorable Mayor and Council VIII-~-3 FROM: John Grossman, HRA Director RE: Public Hearing and Resolution for purchase of 1501 Vermillion Street, formerly the Clark Oil or Jiffy gasoline station. State law requires that the City Council hold a hearing and approve the purchase of a specific parcel by the HRA when a Redevelopment Project Area has not yet been established. The procedure calls for the HRA to propose the general location of a Project Area which will be submitted to Council for approval at a later date. The Council is asked to approve by resolution a fmding that the acquisition will contribute to the elimination of blight or deterioration with the area. A public hearing on December 3, 2007 was advertised in the Star Gazette on November 22, 2007. The general location of a Redevelopment Project Area to be proposed by the HRA is on both sides of Vermillion Street between Highway 55 and Highway 47. The boundaries and individual parcels to be included in this area will be recommended at that time. The one specific parcel that will be included is the property considered for acquisition, 1501 Vermillion Street. The general location would be within the Midtown District in the Vermillion Street Corridor Development Guidelines prepared by the EDC, attached. Within a Redevelopment Project Area, like downtown, the HRA can acquire, clear, remediate and sell property for development and the HRA can assist the rehabilitation of existing buildings. If a tax increment district were needed, it would have to be located within the redevelopment project area. Unused and functionally obsolete property or uses are considered blight for the purpose of redevelopment. The station at 1501 Vermillion has been closed since 1999. The underground gasoline tanks cannot be reused. The building is functionally obsolete with the possible exception of a gas station use. Documents relating to a finding that the acquisition of 1501 Vermillion will contribute to the elimination of blight or deterioration within the area are attached. • Photographs of the property • Location map from Dakota County Environmental Services • Email discussing the existing underground tanks, installed in 1971, and past spills • List of Building Safety Departments' communications with owner about maintenance of the property. The HRA approved a resolution authorizing the execution of a Purchase Agreement, contingent on Council approval. The purchase agreement includes: Offer of $185,000 as is. Purchase is contingent on a survey, environmental phase I and II studies and tests, and marketable title, acceptable to the HRA. The owner still has to accept the offered price. Other offers are possible. Recommendation: The attached Resolution making the findings and approving the acquisition of the property by the HRA and the finding that acquisition will contribute to the elimination of blight. December 3, 2007 TO: The Honorable Mayor and Council f. The HRA Board FROM: John Grossman HRA Director RE: Acquisition of 1501 Vermillion Street The realtor has informed us that a stronger (higher) offer has been made for the property, subject to an environmental report to be completed by December 15. I will still send the HRA purchase agreement to the realtor in case the other. party decides against buying. ~ . The acceptance date of the HRA purchase agreement will be changed from December 14 to December 28. This allows for a delay in their environmental report. Unless the HRA purchase agreement is accepted it would be void after that date. Council approval of the acquisition is still needed in case the HRA purchase agreement is then accepted. Regardless of the purchase, the HRA will continue working on a proposal for a Redevelopment Project Area for Council- Consideration. The Area designation will be still be needed for future development opportunities on Vermillion. CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF HASTINGS DAKOTA COUNTY, MINNESOTA RESOLUTION NO. APPROVING THE ACQUISITION OF 1501 VERMILLION STREET BY THE HOUSING AND REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY DECEMBER 3, 2007 Council member introduced the following resolution and moved its adoption: WHEREAS the City Council adopted a Resolution declaring the need for and establishing a Housing and Redevelopment Authority (the Authority) in Hastings, Minnesota on August 3, 1971 pursuant to Minnesota Statutes (469.003) finding that there exist in the City of Hastings substandard or blighted areas which cannot be redeveloped without the assistance of government; and WHEREAS the Authority may within its area of operation (the City) acquire blighted areas and other property for the purpose of removing or preventing blight, blighting factors or the causes of blight in order to carry out a redevelopment project (469.002 Subd. 14 and 469.012 subd. l h) ;and WHEREAS a blighted area means buildings or improvements which by reason of dilapidation, obsolescence, design, substandard condition, deleterious land use or obsolete layout or any combination of these or other factors are detrimental to the safety, health or welfare of the community; and WHEREAS the Authority may acquire individual tracts of property with the approval of the governing body when the Authority has determined the location of a redevelopment project but prior to the City Council approval of the redevelopment plan and project, provided that a public hearing is held on the proposed acquisition after published notice and the City Council finds that the proposed acquisition will contribute to the elimination of blight or deterioration within the area; and WHEREAS the City Council fmds that acquisition of 1501 Vermillion Street, formerly known as the Jiffy or the Clark Oil gasoline station, by the Authority will contribute to the elimination of blight by reason of: 1) The station, located at a major intersection in the center of the City, has been closed for approximately eight years; 2) Three 7,500 gallon gasoline tanks no longer approved for use, and piping, remain on the site and have to be removed for reuse; 3) The building is small and out of repair and most of the surface is paved with concrete and asphalt; 4) The above conditions are obstacles to the redevelopment of the site by private parties; and 5) That the Building Safety Department has had to require owners of the property to secure the building and maintain the property; WHEREAS the site is now offered for sale at a price which enables the Authority to acquire, remove buildings and tanks and prepare the site for redevelopment by private parties; AND WHEREAS the Authority will propose to the City Council a redevelopment project area generally located within the Midtown District (Highway 55 to County Road 4'~ of the Vermillion Street Development Guidelines, specifically including the parcel at 1501 Vermillion Street. NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Authority is authorized to execute the Purchase Agreement prepared by the City Attorney for the purchase of the property at 1501 Vermillion. Council Member a vote the resolution was adopted: Ayes: Nays: Attest: seconded the resolution and upon being put to Paul J. Hicks, Mayor Melanie Mesko Lee, City Clerk The Midtown District The Midtown District begins at 11th Street on the north and extends to County Road 47 on the south. In 1856 William LeDuc, thought this section of the corridor would be a fine place for a home on the outskirts of Hastings in close proximity to the Vermillion River. LeDuc also saw potential for the development of a mill in this area. Development slowly crept south from the downtown area along Vermillion Street until the 1940's when single family home construction grew along the corridor. Following the 1940's the corridor has seen a steady transformation into a diverse mix of uses. Many of the homes have disappeared and been replaced with commercial businesses or office space. The 50's and 60's development tended to build buildings closer to the street when Vermillion carried far less volumes of traffic and parking was on the street. The 70's and 80's saw a suburban model of development with buildings setback from the street with off-street parking located in front of buildings. More recent development has continued the suburban model of development with a number of exceptions. The ConAgra complex and the LeDuc Historical Estate remain a reference to the history of the community and the Creamery continues to be a cherished destination. Appendices Midtown District -Highway SS to County Road 47. T'ennillion Street in earlier dms. - Jiffy Gas Station - 1501 Vermillion St, Hastin "; ~ - Legend -----•--~•.,r ~-r ~r - .c~--- -- -- - I- -- ---r.un r:= -, ~ , ~'~ , Gandominiums <:,A ~e,:..~i ~ ~,x - - Pv1PCA Tai~ks_ "' ;~.; ;. - `` ~ f49PCA Leak Sites r 9 ~, _ PY9PCr~ 5 ~i is L ~ r ,,~ }~ ~ ~' :ells .~ ', ~~ 'dtiaste Sites ifabelsj ' ' ~ ~ Spill. Irtjc~.iien. Rekaac ,~ ~ x ~ q. , i - Y='. `'~ l fZLy:,~~t~~ 'iiastC Fa~i{ity ~, _ ~ j SusF~~tecS -- __ =tst- 55~- --- -....___•5rti-st . .~--- --- ------- ---..._____._ a Carf~t;r ~ . r ; ~,stivc lnvestyaG::n ~ '~ , (~9uni i l B d __ _ ~ , ~ c pa aun ary -._ - - m . ~-: ~ -n .~ ~• Street Centerlines ..._, ,.. ~, r ~. r ~ _ _ n , _ = Tax Parcels r T` ~' , ~ ~% . ~r, - -yi r~:~-~ ~ ~ .~ ~ ~ _ - ~ ~ ~ t _ v. t ~ .,, - ~ - ~ ~ st Parcet lD ;194470016006 ;Year Built :1971 Owner Name 'Bulk Petroleum Cor P :Dwelling Type :CONY STORE Joint Owner :Home Style Owner Address , 9653 N Granville Rd Square r=ootage 404 Owner Address 2 i Land Value i $138,700 City/State/Zip Mequon W 53097 :Building Value $47,200 Common Name .!iffy Total Value $185,900 Property House Number ;1501 Tax Capacity $2,968 ~ Property Street Name :VERMILLION Special Assessmenfs ' $65 ,Property Street Type - ST Total Tax ! $5,020 Property City HASTINGS ;Date of Sale Use Commercial-Preferred .Sale Value $0 Homestead N Acres ' 0.34 Disc/aimer. Map and parcel data are believed to be accurate, but accuracy is not Map Scale guaranteed. This is not a legal document and should not be substituted for a title search, 1 inch = 205 feet appraisal, survey, or for zoning verification. John Grossman From: Undem, Cathy [Cathy.Undem@CO.DAKOTA.MN.US] Sent: Tuesday, November 06, 2007 4:37 PM To: John Grossman Subject: Ji#fy Gas Station info -1501 Vermillion St, Hastings r-~ p 1501 Vermillion St-Hastings si... John, I have attached a simple map with environmental data I have so far. 3 Tanks are registered for the site under Jiffy: 3 - 7500 gallon tanks for gasoline with an installed date of 1971, current status - temporarily closed There is an Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Leak # 8995, related to Clark Service Station #1816 reported on Nov 9, 1995 closure Oct 21, 1996 There is also a spill referenced to the site MPCA Spill # 20103, Indianhead is reported as responsible, reported on 9-6-94, gasoline spill. There is also a Dakota County Waste site # 7412 related to the MPCA reported leak. According to our file, w is appears o ave s ar e in 001, the Lea. site was reported but no info was forwarded to the County. Any reports on the leak will need to be requested from the MPCA files. We have a copy of the closure letter dated October 21, 1996, from the MPCA to Clark refining stating the investigation and/or cleanup was sufficient at this time. However, the MPCA LUST website indicates that soil or groundwater impacts are unknown. Not sure what the leak was from, but could have been a spill or change in pump islands, piping upgrade? Based on the 2006 Pictometry, it appears that the tanks are located in the NE corner of the property and that the distribution lines run from the tanks west to the pump islands. Pumps are gone but islands remain. So best guess is the tanks are there along with the distribution lines to the islands. I will send you a list of consultants tomorrow. Thanks, Cathy Undem Hydrgeologist Water Resources Department 952-891-7532 «1501 Vermillion St-Hastings site map.pdf» 1 City of Hastings 101 East 4th Street Hastings, Minnesota 55033 (651)480-2342 Code Enforcement Record Page: 1 Citation Number: CDEF2005-170 Printed: 11/28/2007 Citation Date: Inspector: Dawn West Cited By: Status: Ongoing Comments: Jiffy Station Grass/Weeds Mowed 5130/05 Letter Sent 5!19/05. Complaint 6/30/05, 1 Called 7/5/05 David called 7/6/05 said it would be mowed by Sat. 7/9/05 . Was mowed 7/8/05 Placed a call 5/11/06 concerning grass/weeds and a shed behind it that got broken into and debris is flying all over the neighborhood. Complaint came from 480-8152 Called 5/15/06 and talked with David and he said nothing would happen till at least the middle of the week. 1 said the grass needed to be cut ASAP. Left another message 5/18/06. Yet another message .5/26/06. Mowed by the City 6/5/06 John Bliss 1-309-788-4549 one contact. People who sell corn on that corner 1-507-798-2486. 4/5/07 Left a message with John Bliss. 4!9/07 Complaint from 438-3834. Wonders why the city is allowing this building to stand. Told him I placed a call last week and that I was going to call again. Another phone call placed 4/9/07. John said he was going to have his partner call me. John wanted to know if we had a boarding service in town that he was in Davenport and wasn't coming to Hastings today. I gave him Chris Hill's number from Chill Services. 4/9/07 Chris called and said he will be getting to boarding the front up this week and maybe painting it to blend up a little better-. 4/30/07 Van Parked there. I called the number and told the person to remove it. He said he would remove it tonight. 5/3/07 Left message for John Bliss to call me. Another message sent 5/4/07. We are playing phone tag. 5/8/07 says he will be out of town a few days and will be back Monday 5/14/07 Let him another message. 5/10/07 John Bliss's number he called from 563-322-4550. He said he was going to call the corn lady and then Chris Hill. 5/10/07 Was mowed. Was mowed again the week of 14-18th of May. Violator: Bulk Petroleum Corporation Phone: 309-781-4950 9653 N. Granville Road Fax: Mequon, WI 53097 Cellular: Email: Filer: Scott /Patty Wardell Phone: 651-438-3834 11661 Lockridge Ave Fax: Hastings, MN 55033 Cellular: 4/9/07 complaint Email: Fees: $0.00 Receipts: $0.00 Violations: Identifier: Section 18.05, Subd. 4 Descriptor: Grass & Weeds on private property Comments: A. It is unlawful for any owner, occupant or agent of any lot or parcel of land in the city to allow any vegetation such as weeds or grass growing upon any such !ot or parcel or land to grow to a height greater than 12 inches or to allow such weeds or grass to go to seed. B. If any such owner, occupant or agent fails to comply with this height limitation and after notice given by the Property Maintenance Inspector, has not complied within seven days of such notice, the city shall cause such weeds or grass to be cut and the expenses thus incurred shall be a lien upon such real estate. The City shall certify to the Dakota County Auditor, a statement of cost incurred by the City. Such amount together with interest, shall be entered as a special assessment against such lot or parcel of land and shall be collected in the same manner as real estate taxes. Identifier: Section 6.05 Descriptor: Ice and Snow on Public Sidewalks Comments: SUBD. 1 Ice and Snow a Nuisance. All snow and ice remaining upon public sidewalks is hereby declared to constitute a public nuisance and shall be abated by the owner or tenant of the abutting private property within 48 hours after such snow or ice has ceased to be deposited. Inspections: Inspection Type: Inspection Number: Inspection Date: Inspector: Passed? ^ Conditions: Date: Source: Status: Code: Description: Condition: Graphics: Description: Other Fields: Warning Date: Warning Date: Warning Date: 5/29/2003 5/19/2005 Warning Date: Citation Date: Citation Date: Citation Date: Citation Date: Warning # Warning # Warning # Warning # Warning # Citation # Citation # Citation # Citation # Comments: Comments: Comments: Comments: Comments: Comments: Comments: Comments: Comments: Grass/Weeds Grass/Weeds 383 880 0 0 0 0 0 0 0