[Ord. No. 06-01 §1, 3-14-2006]
Several pieces of municipal-owned real estate are located on
the side/adjacent lot to property owned by private individuals. Several
of these individual "residents" owning property adjacent to municipal
lots have expressed an interest in buying the City's "side lots".
In the interest of enhancing property for residents, the City of Northwoods
is now considering the sale of our municipal-owned "side lots" to
residents living adjacent to our property. Thus, this Chapter is the
policy of the Board in selling of City-owned "side lots" to residents.
[Ord. No. 06-01 §1, 3-14-2006]
A.
The resident
requesting the purchase of a side lot must apply to the City of Northwoods
and show proof that all current taxes owed have been paid. The City
will record the request and proceed to also offer sale of the side
lot to the resident on the other side of the lot. This policy shall
not apply to any vacant lots located on the following streets: Edgewood,
Pineridge, Lillian, Natural Bridge and Lucas and Hunt.
B.
If both
adjacent residents want to buy the lot, the City will divide the lot
in half and sell half to each adjacent resident for one-half (½)
of the most recent St. Louis County appraised value or the City's
appraised value. Before any such sale, each adjacent owner will be
required to pay one-half (½) of the cost to subdivide said
lot.
C.
If only
one resident wants to purchase the lot, the City will proceed to sell
it for the most recent appraised value established by St. Louis County
or the City's appraised sale value. The resident initially requesting
to buy the lot will have first (1st) right of refusal.
D.
The buyer(s)
will be responsible for obtaining a professional title search, appraised
land value and the St. Louis County tax valuation before the sale
can be finalized.
E.
A fifty
dollar ($50.00) cashier's check or money order is required at the
time of application to purchase the side lot. The fifty dollar ($50.00)
fee represents a non-refundable processing fee that does not go toward
the purchase price of the side lot.
[Ord. No. 06-01 §1, 3-14-2006]
If the side lot does not have clear and marketable title, the
purchaser can request that the title to the side lot property be cleared
by means of condemnation or other appropriate legal proceedings. All
costs associated with clearing the title to the side lot property
shall be paid by the purchaser or negotiated with the City.
[Ord. No. 06-01 §1, 3-14-2006]
As part of the application to purchase a side lot, the purchaser
must sign a property maintenance agreement that obligates the purchaser,
among other things, to maintain the purchaser's property and the adjacent
side lot in good condition. The agreement shall be recorded with the
deed to the side lot so that the purchaser's responsibilities under
the agreement shall be ongoing. If the property is not properly maintained
according to City codes and ordinances, the agreement will provide
for certain remedies which may include transferring the side lot back
to the City of Northwoods and adding fines for non-compliance with
City codes.
