D. Update on Carver County License Center
CITY OF
CHANHASSEN
7700 Market Boulevard
PO Box 147
Chanhassen, MN 55317
Administration
Phone: 952.227.1100
Fax: 952.227.1110
Building Inspections
Phone: 952.227.1180
Fax: 952.227.1190
Engineering
Phone: 952.227.1160
Fax: 952.227.1170
Finance
Phone: 952.227.1140
Fax: 952.227.1110
Park & Recreation
Phone: 952.227.1120
Fax 952.227.1110
Recreation Center
2310 Coulter Boulevard
Phone 952.227.1400
Fax: 952.227.1404
Planning &
Natural Resources
Phone: 952.227.1130
Fax: 952.227.1110
Public Works
1591 Park Road
Phone: 952.227.1300
Fax: 952.227.1310
Senior Center
Phone: 952.227.1125
Fax: 952.227.1110
Web Site
www.ci.chanhassen.mn.us
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MEMORANDUM
TO:
Todd Gerhardt, City Manager
FROM:
Kate Aanenson AICP, Community Development Director
DATE:
August 13,2007
()~
SUBJ:
Update on Carver County License Center
Carver County is pursuing the purchase of a site for a license center. Attached is
the article that was in the Chanhassen Villager on July 26,2007, a draft of a site
plan and a location map.
g:\plan\ka\county licensc\memorandulll.doc
The City 01 Chanhassen · A growing community with clean lakes, quality schools, a channing downtown, thriving businesses, winding trails, and beautiful parks A great place to live, work, and play.
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The article you requested is displayed below.
County buys land for license center
Author(s): Richard Crawford
Section: News
Date: July 26, 2007
In the not too distant future, area residents will be able to handle vehicle
license transactions within the city limits of Chanhassen. Carver County
commissioners on Tuesday approved a purchase agreement for land in
downtown Chanhassen that will be the location for a second license center.
The cost of the 42,250-square-foot parcel is about $403,000. The site is
located directly east of Targetandsouthof M&IBankonKerber Boulevard.
The county has been working toward a second license center site since 2005.
The existing license center in downtown Chaska has been overcrowded for
several years and is also in line for renovation.
Even while giVing unanimous approval to the purchase agreement,
commissioners expressed frustration at the length of the process and began
lobbying for accelerating a construction timetable.
Administrative Services Director Steve Taylor said the process has been
delayed for several reasons, including the challenge of finding an affordable
property in Chanhassen. When the process began, commissioners set aside $1
million for the project. Taylor said the county has also attempted to examine
broader facility needs that exist beyond the license center.
Taylor said the county is in the process of hiring a construction manager to
help complete a design, cost estimates and a construction timetable for the
license facility.
Taylor said the cost of constructing a 5,000- square-foot building would be
about $1.4 million. There is also a possibility of adding a second floor to the
facility to alleviate crowding issues at the government center. A two-story
building is estimated to cost $2.2 million.
Prior to starting construction, the County Board plans on determining where
the additional money will come from to cover construction. Currently, money is
available in the county's year-end savings account. County Administrator David
Hemze said a funding proposal likely will be brought before the board in
September.
Mark Lundgren, who oversees the existing license center as director of
property records & taxpayer services, anticipates the new license center to
http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/ Archi ves ?p_action=print
8/2/2007
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generate about $241,000 in revenue in the first year and cover expenses -
excluding building costs and utilities - by $14,000. Lundgren said he would
expect the financial picture to improve in subsequent years.
The most important thing, Lundgren said, is the county can provide better
service to residents so there won't be a lot of "grumbling and whining" when
they leave.
The new license center would be staffed with two full-time employees and
three part-time employees in the first year, Lundgren said.
The Chanhassen facility will also feature a drive-through window for
transactions.
The county also plans on expanding the existing Chaska facility and it remains
to be determined how the new construction would be scheduled. One possibility
is that the Chanhassen facility would be built and serve as the lone license
facility while renovation work is done in Chaska.
Taylor said he estimated construction could take 9 to 12 months.
Commissioner Tom Workman, who represents Chanhassen, said a 2009
opening seems too far off.
He and other commissioners expressed interest in opening the facility as soon
as possible.
Richard Crawford can be reached at editor@chanvillager.com.
Technical problems: If you have a technical problem with your account
please e-mail newslibrary(CiJnewsbank.com.
Copyright, 2007, Chanhassen Villager (MN). All Rights Reserved.
http://nl.newsbank.com/n I-search/we/ Archi ves?p _acti on=pri n t
8/2/2007
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Site Study - Chanhassen
June 20, 2007
Carver County Taxpayer Service Center
Bentz I Thompson I Rietow, Inc.
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