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RESOLUTION OF SUBSTANTIAL COMPLETION OF THE PROTECTIVE DESIGNATION PROCESS OF A MINIMUM OF 1,500 ACRES OF LAND ACQUIRED THROUGH THE STRATEGIC PUBLIC LANDS REALIGNMENT PROJECT, AS REQUIRED BY THAT CERTAIN DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT DATED DECEMBER 11, 2025, BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE DULUTH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY.
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CITY PROPOSAL:
WHEREAS, the city acquired approximately 700 parcels of state tax-forfeited land through the Strategic Public Lands Realignment Project, as outlined in Resolution Nos. 22-0251 and 23-0463 (the “Project”), wherein the city stated an intent to grant future protective designations of this land (the “Public Lands”) through park dedication, inclusion in the Duluth Natural Areas Program, or rezoning as Park and Open Space (P-1) (collectively, the “Project Goals”);
WHEREAS, Ordinance No. 25-032-O authorized the conveyance of certain real property (the “Property”) in the Lester Park neighborhood to the Duluth Economic Development Authority (“DEDA”) and the conveyance is contingent upon the terms and conditions of that certain development agreement between the city and DEDA dated December 11, 2025 (the “Development Agreement”);
WHEREAS, Section IV.D of the Development Agreement provides that the conveyance of the Property is contingent upon the city having taken all steps necessary to complete the Project Goals (the “Protective Designation Process”) as to a minimum of 1,500 acres of the Public Lands on or before January 12, 2027;
WHEREAS, to date, 531 acres of the Public Lands are now included in the Duluth Natural Areas Program, and an additional 1,119 acres of the Public Lands are zoned Park and Open Space District (P-1), for a total of 1,650 acres having a protective designation in accordance with the Project Goals; and
WHEREAS, Section II.H of the Development Agreement provides that the substantial completion of the Projective Designation Process may be evidenced by the passage of a resolution of the city council making a determination of substantial completion of the Project Goals (the “Public Lands Resolution”).
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the city council hereby determines that the Protective Designation Process provided in the Development Agreement is substantially completed and that this resolution shall serve as the Public Lands Resolution under the Development Agreement.
Statement of Purpose
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE: In 2025, City Council authorized the conveyance of the Lester Park Golf Course to the Duluth Economic Development Authority via Ordinance 25-032-O subject to the terms and conditions of a Development Agreement approved via Resolution 25-0949. The conveyance was contingent upon, among other items, implementing the goals of the Strategic Public Lands Realignment Project (the “Project”) and specifically ensuring that, of the 1,500-1,800 acres identified, at least 1,500 acres of land that had been acquired during the Project receive one of the following protective designations: (i) park dedication; (ii) inclusion in the Duluth Natural Areas Program; or (iii) Park and Open Space District (P-1) zoning classification.
The Project was a collaborative effort by the City of Duluth, St. Louis County, and funding partners to realign the ownership of tax forfeited property within the City. To date, of the property acquired through this Project, 531 acres have been entered into the Duluth Natural Areas Program and 1,119 acres are zoned Park and Open Space (P-1) for a total of approximately 1,650 acres with a protective designation, exceeding the minimum threshold of 1,500 acres.