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City explains permanent easements for Eklund Avenue reconstruction in Duluth Heights
Summary
City engineers said numerous permanent easements and temporary agreements are needed to complete Eklund Avenue reconstruction, citing constrained right-of-way and stormwater work; engineers reported residents were generally supportive.
City engineering staff told the Duluth City Council that a set of permanent easements listed on the agenda are needed to support the Eklund Avenue reconstruction project in the Duluth Heights neighborhood.
Duncan Swenson, an engineer with the City of Duluth, said the existing right of way in the corridor is typically 50 feet but the city’s standard is 66 feet and the project requires additional space for stormwater crossings and to correct locations where the road currently encroaches on property lines. Swenson said the permanent easements will allow the city to install and later maintain stormwater infrastructure, and that temporary license agreements will also be used to adjust driveways and slopes during construction.
Swenson said the city held three public meetings to explain the project to residents, mailed notification letters and conducted several one-on-one conversations; he told councilors “the most of the residents in the neighborhood are quite supportive of the project” and that he had not had any property owners refuse permanent easements.
The easements were read into the record as a series of resolutions accepting permanent easements from individual property owners in Duluth Heights and Blue Heights (transcript lists multiple agenda items, resolution numbers 1 64 through 1 72 and related items). Councilors asked whether the package covered the entire corridor and whether any owners declined; staff said the listed easements covered the permanent easement needs and additional temporary agreements remain to be completed.
