The Soldotna City Council enacted an ordinance authorizing the survey, platting, and purchase of a portion of a tract of land for the purchase price of $6 per square foot. City municipal code requires acquisitions of property to be approved by ordinance.
City Manager Stephanie Queen tells the City Council:
“This is the companion ordinance which would allow us to acquire the remainder of the right of way to make that connection between the signalized intersection at the Y and East Redoubt so people would have an opportunity to make a safer left-hand turn particularly when traffic numbers are high. Unlike the previous parcel that we were authorized to purchase, in this instance, we are only acquiring a piece of an existing parcel. It will require the subdivision and carving off of that approximately about 5,000 square feet, in that ballpark, I think is what we need to make that connection. This ordinance would fund the purchase price at $6 a square foot which we think is fair and consistent with what we know to be market value. It would authorize us to engage in that platting process. We have a tentative agreement with the owner that’s included in the packet and if the council approves this, we would move forward. I will also update you, I already have signed and closed on behalf of the city for the homestead parcel.”
Queen has negotiated terms of the purchase of property along East Redoubt Avenue for the purpose of making Homestead Lane a through right-of-way to East Redoubt Avenue. Homestead Lane currently dead-ends approximately 1,000 feet short of East Redoubt and a recent purchase has brought city ownership to within 40 feet of East Redoubt Avenue. With this purchase, the city will have obtained the final portion of land necessary to connect Homestead Lane to East Redoubt Avenue.
The area of parcel necessary to complete the Homestead Lane connection, according to memo documents, should be no more than 6,000 square feet. The administration intends to survey, plat, and dedicate right-of-way for that portion of land necessary to extend Homestead to E. Redoubt.
