HomeMy WebLinkAboutA001 - Memo dated May 8, 1992 from City Manager till limit
MIMI
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: Steven L. Schainker, City Manager
DATE: May 8, 1992
SUBJECT: Agreement for Bike Path Easement from Iowa State Research
Park Corporation
Attached for your approval is the agreement for bike path easement with Iowa
State University Research Park Corporation. This easement will allow the
City to construct a bike path from approximately south of U.S. 30 to Airport
Road. This section will connect with the City's bike path system which will
be constructed from South 16th Street south to U.S. 30. When completed,
this total section will provide a vital link for residents south of Highway 30 to
downtown Ames. If you will recall, this section of bike path was in the first
priority listing of sections included in the Ames Bikeway Master Plan.
Historically, we would require the owner of abutting property to construct
the bike path section as part of their site plan approval when private
property is developed. However, while the City has earmarked this section
for immediate construction, this portion of the Research Park will probably
not develop for some years. Rather than wait, the City has agreed to
construct this portion of the bike path.
Research Park officials were concerned about the unsightly nature of the path
and, therefore, required as part of their granting of the easement that the
City expend funds to provide landscaping on private property to buffer the
Research Park from the bike path. In addition, park officials were concerned
about the cost of maintaining this plant material and have required that the
City pay the first year's maintenance cost associated with the landscaping
plan.
In order to facilitate the completion of this vital link in our Bikeway Master
Plan, the City has agreed to the Iowa State Research Park Corporation's
conditions for granting the easement. In an effort to resolve the 'i"'�s-aF•
that has prevented us from constructing this bike path for some months, I
would recommend that the City agree to the terms of this easement, even
though they're highly unusual.
/lvz
attachment
c: Scott Logan, Traffic Engineer
Paul Wiegand, Public Works Director