HomeMy WebLinkAbout3.a. Dakota County Farmland & Natural Area ProgramCITY OF ROSEMOUNT
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY FOR DISCUSSION
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE: September 10, 2003
AGENDA ITEM: Dakota County Farmland and Natural Areas
AGENDA SECTION
Program Update
PREPARED BY: Dan Schultz, Parks and Recreation Director
AGENDA NO.
3A
ATTACHMENTS: Wiklund and McMenomy Location Map
APPROVED BY: /
The Dakota County Farmland and Natural Areas Program is a multi -year project addressing citizen concern over
the loss of farmland and natural areas in fast growing Dakota County. The Farmland and Natural Areas
Program will protect farmland through the voluntary sale of conservation easements from willing landowners.
Natural Areas can be protected either through conservation easements or purchase of property. In November
2002, Dakota County voters approved the sale of $20 million in bonds to acquire, preserve and protect natural
areas and farmland.
The next major phase of Dakota County's Farmland and Natural Areas Program that might involve the City occurs
during the months of September and October. Applications are now being accepted from those who own natural
areas that could be considered for preservation under the new program. The goal of both farmland and natural areas
phases is to preserve open space in the county in its current condition, preventing it from being developed. The
program will protect 5,000 - 10,000 acres of priority farmlands and natural areas in Dakota County over the next ten
years.
As stated above, the program is for willing land owners who wish to protect their land. I have been discussing
the City's possible involvement in the preservation of open space in Rosemount with staff from Friends of the
Mississippi River, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the attorney for Aina Wiklund. Ms.
Wiklund owns a 25 acre parcel in Rosemount that she wishes to see preserved. The parcel borders the western
edge of the McMenomy 60 acre parcel (future park C -3). The current plan would include the use of County
money and DNR money to buy the fee title and then possibly transfer it to the City of Rosemount. The City
would then have ownership of the land with a conservation easement.
Staff have also been in contact with the McMenomy family regarding their 60 acre parcel. The last meeting with
the McMenomy family included three of the four siblings (Mike, Betsy, and Terry) who have ownership of the
property. During that meeting, the siblings indicated that they would be willing to listen to an offer from the
City. They did not give a sale price and had not yet had the land appraised. The siblings indicated that they
would be having an appraisal done on the property to better identify the value.
Staff has been contacting the family in hopes of setting up another meeting to discuss their appraisal.
RECOMMENDED ACTION \ NOTES: Discussion Only.
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