Discussion:
The city acquired these properties through a tax sale agreement for approximately $22,000. Council approved the sale in May 2017 to Topaz Investments and Doggie Doos for the development of a facility to serve the handicapped and a new location for Doggie Doos. Both received Conditional Use Permits for the property. As part of the public notice process, the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community (SMSC) raised concerns that the site may be part of a larger burial area.
The City engaged Bolton & Menk to complete an archeological review of the area and this property in particular. After initial investigation, Bolton & Menk found that the property had been identified as the potential location of a larger burial area. After preliminary discussions with the State Archeologist, Bolton & Menk suggested that site development could be problematic because of the high probability that archeological resources would be discovered during the development process. The SMSC also discussed its concerns that this area has the high probability of archeological resources.
City staff and SMSC have worked together to come up with a solution to protect the resources on this property since it has been identified as part of the historic location of the Mdewakanton Dakota Tinta Otunwe (Village on the Prairie).
Utility easements that have not been recorded will be brought forward for recordation prior to final sale. The SMSC will also likely ask for abandonment of other unnecessary easements.
The SMSC plans to reseed the parcel with native grasses and have the property return to a more natural appearance.
The facility for handicapped individuals and Doggie Doos have applied for a CUP for the city-owned property at 69/169 and staff will bring forward a preliminary plat once the new road alignment has been finalized.