Lemay Lake Road Residents Protest Street Reconstruction

Some residents of the Lemay Lake neighborhood showed up at Tuesday night to oppose plans for a street reconstruction project next year that would cost residents up to $8,500 per property.

The public hearing was extended to the next regular city council meeting to give staff and council time to review concerns and any options that may be available.

The project to reconstruct Lemay Lake Road, Lakeview Avenue, Kendon Avenue, Furling Avenue and Victory Avenue is scheduled for 2012 as part of the city’s street improvement plan.

Lemay Lake Road would be reconstructed from Mendota Heights Road to Highway 13. The project includes installation of curb and gutter, storm sewer, a trail and hydrant replacement.

“I don’t think that you can assess that kind of money onto these properties,” said Kendon Lane resident David Hiner at the public hearing. “… We’re not the Copperfield area. We have very limited (re)sources. A lot of these houses are not worth, not even close, to $100,000. … A lot of the people are on fixed incomes or retired—I’d say a majority of the people in the neighborhood.”

The total project is estimated to cost $2.3 million. City staff is recommending assessing $442,633.88 to residents with a cap of $8,500 per household. That amount has been used as a maximum for residential assessments in past years. The amount of the total assessment was calculated according to city policy.

Residents can pay for assessments up front or over the course of 10 years at 6 percent interest.

In the case of veterans, seniors and owners of undeveloped land, they can defer the assessment until sale, up to 30 years, with accrual of interest.

The project costs for this area of town are higher than other street reconstruction projects due to the number of cul-de-sacs and additional material costs, according to the staff report.

Resident Margaret Swenson said the project would not add value to the neighborhood, which is smaller and less developed than the Wagon Wheel neighborhood reconstructed last summer.

"It really is no benefit to have curbs on our streets to us as homeowners as far as every getting our money back on our properties," said Swenson. "I don’t think it would help.”

Curb and gutter benefits the stormwater management system, according to city engineers. It also aids snow plows and provides strength to the road edges.

Not everyone was opposed to the project. Resident John Legler said he watches water run down the street, jump a lip at the edge of his property, and run directly into the lake. “I think it would be a real benefit for the lake and for the water quality of the lake.”

The council will take up the public hearing once more Dec. 6.