Fiscal Note
The proposed annexation agreement is one of three authorizing proposals that comprise the City's planned development of the Cherokee area. In addition to the annexation agreement, the City has developed a Cherokee Special Area Plan and a Memorandum of Understanding between Cherokee Park Development, Inc. ("Cherokee") and the City, each of which is offered under separate authorizing Resolutions requiring Council approval.
The annexation agreement is essentially a statement of intent between Cherokee and the City and makes no financial commitment by the City at this time. The agreement provides that Cherokee will initiate a series of annexations for property currently in the Towns of Burke and/or Westport. The annexations will occur in phases over several years; each annexation will require separate Council approval. As annexations occur, the City will make sanitary sewer, water, road and other infrastructure improvements appropriate for development and levy special assessments for proportionate cost recovery in accordance with standard City policies and procedures.
The annexation agreement includes two unique provisions:
First, the agreement stipulates that in conjunction with the City's cooperative plan with the Town of Burke, Cherokee will pay to the City "a portion of the debt currently existing in the Town of Burke's municipal water system," estimated to be $423,400. The City will recover its cost over several years via building permit assessments as dwelling units are constructed.
Second, the agreement provides that in the event additional land is required for park purposes beyond those currently designated as park lands, Cherokee will dedicate property known as the "Stewart Property" to serve as a "bank" of parklands upon which may be drawn any required additional park lands commensurate with development. The agreement provides for a valuation of the land and requires that, in the event the total parkland dedication exceeds that...
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