Item 13 Discussion and Direction Regarding Property Located at 441 Basking Ridge Court \r/
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AGENDA ITEM COVER SHEET
Meeting Date: June 16, 2020
Item # 13
Reviewed By
Contact Name. Scott Cookson, City Department Director
Attorney
Contact Number 407-581-9800 City Manager: Robert Fr
Subject: Property located at 441 Basking Ridge Court
District#1 Larry Brinson, Sr.
Background Summary:
The City currently mows and maintains the approximately 1-acre cemetery property located at 441 Basking Ridge
Court. After unsuccessful attempts to contact the listed owners of the property, on January 7, 2020, the City
Commission requested that City Staff work with the City's eminent domain attorney to potentially acquire the
property The City has no present plans with respect to the cemetery property other than the potential installation
of passive improvements on the property (such as a bench, gazebo, or other similar use). The Property Appraiser
lists the cemetery property value at $9,270 00
The City's eminent domain attorney commissioned the required appraisal of the property While the appraisal has
not yet been finalized, it is anticipated that the appraised valued the property will be in excess of$60,000.00 The
appraiser has indicated that, due to the lack of evidence as to the property actually being formerly used as a
cemetery, the appraised value must be consistent with the value of developable land The appraiser intends to
value the property for use as 2-3 residential lots
City Staff originally anticipated the cost to acquire the cemetery property through eminent domain, if based on a
valuation consistent with Property Appraiser's valuation, to be approximately $15,000 to $20,000. With an
appraisal in excess of$60,000.00, City Staff now anticipates that the cost to acquire the cemetery property through
eminent domain to be between $20,000 and $100,000.
In the event the City does not acquire the property,the City could, as has been done for years, continue to maintain
the property. In addition, even without ownership, the City could install passive improvements such as a bench
and/or gazebo. However, the installation of buildings or other structures that are not removable, or removable
only at great expense, would not be advisable without ownership of the property In the unlikely event that an
individual did come forward and establish ownership and object to such improvements, the City would need to
remove the improvements from the property at such time.
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Issue:
Should the City Commission authorize the City's eminent domain attorney to move forward to acquire the
cemetery property in an action for eminent domain? Alternatively, should the City Commission forgo the expense
of acquiring the property and continue to maintain the property?
Recommendations:
Motion for the City Commission to provide further direction to City Staff with respect to the City's acquisition of the
cemetery property.
1 Motion for the City Commission to authorize acquisition of the cemetery property through eminent domain
Or
2 Motion for the City Commission to cease efforts to acquire the cemetery property by eminent domain and
to continue to maintain the cemetery property
Financial Impact:
The estimated cost for the City to proceed to acquire the cemetery property by eminent domain is $20,000 to
$100,000
Type of Item: (please mark with an "x)
❑ Public Hearing For Clerk's Dept Use
❑ Ordinance First Reading ❑ Consent Agenda
❑ Ordinance Second Reading ❑ Public Heanng
❑ Resolution 0 Regular Agenda
❑ Commission Approval
❑ Discussion&Direction
❑ Original Document/Contract Attached for Execution by City Clerk
❑ Original Document/Contract Held by Department for Execution
Reviewed by City Attorney
Reviewed by Finance Dept Rebecca Roberts 6/10/20
Reviewed by
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