Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Highway 244 Turnback topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Dellwood reviews proposed Highway 244 turnback and Mahtomedi annexation
Summary
Mahtomedi engineers presented a plan to detach and annex about 1,000 feet of Highway 244 to Mahtomedi, affecting roughly 15 residents; Dellwood officials said reconveyance would not be possible and will seek resident comments and further engineering design before deciding.
Mahtomedi City Engineer John Sachi told the Dellwood City Council on Sept. 10 that Mahtomedi is proposing the turnback and annexation of roughly 1,000 feet of State Highway 244 to Mahtomedi, accompanied by documents drafted by Mahtomedi’s city attorney that include a proposed resolution and an agreement for future improvements.
Council members pressed for details about the practical consequences of the detachment. Sachi said Dellwood would retain jurisdiction for prosecution of offenses on Dellwood Avenue in the annexed area, but he said reconveyance of the annexed land back to Dellwood would not be possible. He also said he believes Washington County controls residential addressing for properties adjacent to the annexed area.
Council members and staff discussed design and amenities planned by Mahtomedi: Mahtomedi would consider adding a lakeside sidewalk but would not install street lighting; roadway signage would largely remain as is though Dellwood could require additions or removals. The annexed area’s right-of-way is about 60 feet wide, and the speed limit there is expected to remain 30 mph. About 15 residents live adjacent to the affected stretch, and the Council instructed City Planner Nate Sparks to draft a notice to those residents seeking comment.
Council Member Greg Boosalis asked whether the annexed area could later be reconveyed to Dellwood; Sachi said it would not. The Council decided to wait for an engineer report and resident feedback before addressing the side agreement covering improvements; staff noted that the draft side agreement will be revisited after the City receives resident comments.
Next steps: Dellwood will send letters to affected residents and await an engineer’s conceptual design, cost estimates and public input before taking further action.
