Prior Lake annexes 15 acres from Credit River, Spring Lake townships

Prior Lake American

The Prior Lake City Council approved on Monday two different annexation agreements with Credit River and Spring Lake townships for nearly 15 acres of land in total.

Credit River Township

The Credit River Township annexation was nearly 15 acres of land near Welcome Avenue Industrial Park. The property owner had petitioned the city for annexation.

Similar to when the council approved an annexation of more than nine acres in July, a member of the Credit River Township Board spoke at the meeting to express that the township was opposed to the annexation.

“Now, this is the second property that will be annexed away from us that does cost us significantly,” Township Board Chairman Chris Kostik said. “Credit River has partnerships with all four of the surrounding communities ... Prior Lake, so far, is the only one that has annexed properties away from us against our recommendation.”

Kostik also asked that the council direct city staff to not accept more annexation requests from property owners in Credit River Township.

Council member Mike McGuire said the city should not draw a line on what annexation requests the city will accept.

“As far as saying we’re not going to listen to someone who comes in, I think that would be wrong on our part,” McGuire said.

Council member Zach Braid said there should be yearly meetings with the townships regarding annexations, but agreed the city should hear petitions from property owners.

“Part of the American fabric is the dream of property ownership,” Braid said. “For me, it’s a property rights issue.”

According to Minnesota state statutes, a council can annex land to the city without the permission of a township if the land is next to the city, if the land is 120 acres or fewer, if the area is not served by wastewater facilities or the facilities are not available and if the city receives a petition for annexation from the property land owners.

In July, the property owner of more than nine acres in Credit River — Leira Properties LLC — petitioned the city to annex the acreage north of County Road 21 and east of 170th Street East, near Welcome Avenue Industrial Park and Deerfield Business Park.

At the time, Prior Lake resident Patricia Owens — who owns more than 14 acres annexed by the council — said she was interested in discussing options for the property with the city once it was annexed.

“We would like see what possibilities there are for the property we own across the street,” Owens said. “Seeing what we can do with the property in the future is definitely in our interest.”

Spring Lake Township

The property owners of nearly one acre in Spring Lake Township also submitted a petition to Prior Lake to have the city annex a property on Maple Drive, south of Highway 13 and east of Fairlawn Avenue.

The property owners are wanting to connect to city utilities. The owners are on their third septic system that has failed.

The city has no plan at the moment to annex the other properties on Maple Drive, but would consider it in the future if all the homeowners requested it.