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Coon Rapids moves to buy parcel between Fire Station 3 and ice center for $1.1 million
Summary
Council approved a purchase agreement and fund amendment to acquire a Minnesota State-owned parcel between Fire Station No. 3 and the Coon Rapids Ice Center for $1,100,000, with staff directed to perform due diligence and seek future reimbursement of the revolving construction fund from property sales.
The Coon Rapids City Council on April 15 voted to approve a purchase agreement and to amend the revolving construction fund to acquire a parcel owned by Minnesota State (Anoka Ramsey Community College) located between Fire Station No. 3 and the Coon Rapids Ice Center for $1,100,000.
City staff said the parcel is zoned high-density residential and the price reflects the statutory appraisal method Minnesota State uses when offering property first to local jurisdictions. City staff told council the city assessor reviewed the appraisal methodology and deemed the $1.1 million price reasonable given zoning and comparable context. City Administrator Stemwell (staff) told council the city has adequate balance in the revolving construction fund to complete the purchase and that staff expects to reimburse the fund over time as other city remnant properties are sold.
Council members asked whether the city must decide now and whether additional negotiations could be attempted to change price or include adjacent riverfront acreage. Staff explained the state statute process leaves the property available to other buyers if the city declines; staff also said there was not an expressed urgency from Minnesota State but that the parcel is surplus to their needs and proceeds would fund campus capital projects.
Council discussed future land-use options, including potential rezoning and use for an ice-center expansion, extended public plaza, or riverfront access, but staff noted such planning and rezoning would be a separate process.
The council motion to approve the purchase agreement, authorize staff to close, and adopt Resolution 25-59 amending the 2025 revolving construction fund passed unanimously. Council also directed staff to perform due diligence during the contract's inspection period, including soil borings and title review, and to report back on timing and any potential constraints.
Council members emphasized the transaction is intended as a long-term, strategic acquisition to preserve options for community use adjacent to existing city facilities. Staff listed a number of city properties that might be sold in the next 1–3 years (including the old Fire Station 3 site and a water-tower site) to partially replenish the revolving construction fund.
