Title
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE PURCHASE OF REAL PROPERTY FROM PARK HILL CEMETERY ASSOCIATION IN THE WOODLAND NEIGHBORHOOD FOR $664,800.
Body
CITY PROPOSAL:
RESOLVED, that the proper city officials are hereby authorized to enter into a purchase agreement, substantially the same as that on file with the office of the City Clerk, with Park Hill Cemetery Association authorizing the purchase of that certain real property legally described on the attached Exhibit 1 (the “Property”) for $664,800, payable from Fund 205-130-1220-5510-CM205-WOODLD-22CPL (Parks Fund, Community Resources, Parks Capital, Land, Capital Maintenance Fund 205, Woodland, 2022 CPL Park Hill Cemetery Land Acquisition).
FURTHER RESOLVED, that the proper city officials are hereby authorized to execute all documents necessary to effectuate the acquisition of the Property from Park Hill Cemetery Association.
Statement of Purpose
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE: The purpose of this resolution is to authorize the grant-funded acquisition of 56 acres of undeveloped open space depicted in Exhibit 3 (the “Property”) from Park Hill Cemetery Association (“Park Hill”) for $664,800 (the “Purchase Price”). The Property is located on both sides of Vermilion Road north of Glenwood Street and east of the Woodland neighborhood. The purchase agreement setting forth the terms and conditions of acquisition of the Property is attached as Exhibit 2.
The acquisition will be funded entirely by federal and state grants that will match each other so as to avoid the necessity for any City financial contribution.
The City intends to manage the Property for outdoor recreation and long-term preservation consistent with the Imagine Duluth 2035 Comprehensive Plan Future Land Use map for this area, and Comprehensive Plan Guiding Principle #2: Declare the necessity and secure the future of undeveloped places.
The Property is home to ecological resources of exceptional value and sensitivity including mature northern hardwood forest, steep slopes, wetlands, and a major tributary of an important trout stream, Amity Creek. The Property is also home to popular segments of the Superior Hiking Trail, the Duluth Traverse, and Duluth’s state-designated snowmobile trail system.
The Property is part of a larger area of contiguous undeveloped open space currently comprised of property owned by the City, St Louis County, and Forest Hill Cemetery, as well as Park Hill Cemetery. The City is in the process of acquiring portions of this open space from both cemeteries and St Louis County for eventual designation as protected parkland.