DEPARTMENT: Physical Development Administration
FILE TYPE: Regular Information
TITLE
title
Information And Direction On Existing Acquisition Option On Vance B. Grannis Jr. Trust Property In Inver Grove Heights
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PURPOSE/ACTION REQUESTED
Provide information on the County’s existing Option Agreement to potentially acquire the fee title to the Vance B Grannis Jr. Trust (Trust) property encumbered by two existing County natural area conservation easements in response to a proposal for the Trust to donate ownership of the Trust property to the Thomas Irvine Dodge Foundation (Dodge).
SUMMARY
County staff began working with the Grannis family in 2008 to protect and restore land that included portions of the Marcott Chain of Lakes in Inver Grove Heights, and to facilitate the creation of an environmental education center. By Resolutions No. 10-282 (May 18, 2010) and No. 11-302 (June 21, 2011), the County board authorized the expenditure of $323,000 of State Metro Greenways and Outdoor Heritage (OH) funds and County matching funds to acquire a 16.8-acre permanent natural area conservation easement (Easement) from the Grannis family. The Easement was acquired on June 29, 2011.
The County and Grannis Family continued to work on protecting additional property and by Resolutions No. 16-148 (March 1, 2016), No. 16-283 (May 17, 2016), No.16-286 (May 17, 2016), No. 16-315 (June 7, 2016), and No.16-316 (June 7, 2016), the County Board conducted several closed sessions to consider proposals and offers and to authorize negotiations to acquire a second Easement. By Resolution No.16-355 (June 21, 2016), the County Board authorized the expenditure of $3,915,000 of State OH and County match funds to acquire a 108.7-acre Easement, authorized entering into an Option Agreement (Option) for potential future County ownership of the Grannis Family property, and authorized entering into an Operating Agreement (Agreement) to define the roles and responsibilities of the Grannis Family and the County for the proposed Darvan Acres Outdoor Skills and Environmental Education Center (Center) and associated public use. The Option and Agreement were executed on May 9, 2017, and the second Easement was acquired on May 10, 2017. Both Easements preclude the construction of buildings, paved trails, or park-like improvements and require annual monitoring by the County. (Attachment: Depiction of Vance B. Grannis Jr. Trust Property.)
The Option, which could not be exercised prior to August 1, 2024, and in effect until August 1, 2030, provided an opportunity for the County to acquire fee title to 124.5 acres based on donated land value, and the County would pay closing costs and deferred Green Acres taxes. Due to existing statutes that prevent counties from owning property for conservation purposes, the County’s likelihood of exercising this option prior to 2030 is low. While acquisitions for park purposes can include conservation land, the State funding for this acquisition precludes operating it as park land.
A separate provision provided an opportunity to acquire fee title to the 7.2-acre homestead exception area and an additional 1.3 acres of adjacent land at the appraised value. The homestead could be used for a family residence or for environmental education purposes for a period not to exceed 2077, so this Option would need to wait an additional 52 years before it could be exercised and would similarly require legislative updates to allow counties to own property for conservation purposes.
After the acquisition of the second easement, the County and the Grannis Family focused initial efforts on natural resource restoration of the Easement area. An estimated $232,000 of OH and County match funds have been expended to date. Restoration continues, and by Resolution No. 25-042 (June 21, 2025), the County Board authorized the expenditure of $26,000 for additional restoration of the Easement area. Also, during this time, Vance Grannis acquired two adjacent residential properties for possible location for an educational visitor center building. After Mr. Grannis passed away in November 2024, legal ownership of the property was then transferred to the Trust. In 2023, the Trust’s Trustee began focused discussions with Dodge to consider creating a nature center owned and operated by Dodge on the Trust property, which would be named the Darvan Preserve. A private fund-raising campaign would be initiated to create a permanent restricted endowment for staffing and other expenses.
To facilitate the proposed property transfer to Dodge, the Trust’s Trustee has requested that the County consider terminating the Option and providing an option for the County to acquire Trust property along Barnes Avenue for the proposed roadway and trail improvements in the future.
RECOMMENDATION
recommendation
Staff is seeking direction on how to work with the Trust regarding the existing Option and the proposed land transfer to Dodge.
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EXPLANATION OF FISCAL/FTE IMPACTS
☒ None ☐ Current budget ☐ Other
☐ Amendment Requested ☐ New FTE(s) requested
RESOLUTION
body
Information only; no action requested.
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PREVIOUS BOARD ACTION
10-282; 5/18/10
11-302; 6/21/10
12-299; 6/5/12
12-330; 6/19/12
16-283; 5/17/16
16-286; 5/16/16
16-315; 6/7/16
16-316; 6/7/16
16-355; 6/21/16
25-042; 1/21/25
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment: Depiction of Vance B. Grannis Jr. Trust Property
Attachment: Presentation Slides
BOARD GOALS
☐ Thriving People ☒ A Healthy Environment with Quality Natural Resources
☐ A Successful Place for Business and Jobs ☐ Excellence in Public Service
CONTACT
Department Head: Erin Stwora
Author: Eddie Buell