HomeMy WebLinkAboutBoard of Appeals and Equalization - 05/10/2011 UNAPPROVED MINUTES
EDEN PRAIRIE BOARD OF APPEAL AND EQUALIZATION
TUESDAY, MAY 10, 2011 7:00 P.M., CITY CENTER
Council Chambers
8080 Mitchell Road
BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Patricia Pidcock, Chair; Brian Duoos, Vice-
Chair; Jim Johnson, Lyndon Moquist and
Annette O'Connor
BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT: None
CITY STAFF PRESENT: City Assessor Steve Sinell; Staff Appraiser:
Dave Buswell; Assessing Technician Lisa
Ramsey; and Recording Secretary Carol
Pelzel
I. CALL MEETING TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order by Chair Pidcock at 7:00 p.m.
II. ORDER OF BUSINESS
The Board members introduced themselves.
A. APPROVE MINUTES FROM APRIL 21, 2011 BOARD OF APPEAL AND
EQUALIZATION MEETING
MOTION: Motion was made by Moquist, seconded by O'Connor, to approve the
April 21, 2011, minutes as published. All members voted aye and the motion carried
5-0.
B. REVIEW ITEMS CONTINUED FROM APRIL 21, 2011
Appeal No. 3 —Gerald Pitzrick, 12761 College View Dr#105
Gerald Pitzrick, 12761 College View Dr., #105, appeared before the Board and said
basically, he does not have a problem with the new proposed value of$134,000 for
his property. He indicated that typically, 5 percent of the market place is distressed
sales while 50 percent of condo sales are distressed sales. He asked if that was taken
into consideration when the appraisals were done. Also, Pitzrick said there are
distressed sales, sales by owner and sales by agents. The true value today is what the
seller ends up with and not what the property sold for. An agent gets 5 to 7 percent of
the sale price and the value should be less the agent's fee. Pitzrick said this should be
taken into consideration.
BOARD OF APPEAL AND EQUALIZATION MINUTES
May 10, 2011
Page 2
Moquist explained he is a broker, manager and realtor and there are very few, if any,
for sale by owners existing in today's market place. They are comparing apples-to-
apples and everyone is in the same boat.
Sinell said this issue has been before a judge and it has been determined the gross sale
price is to be used and not the net sales price. As long as everyone is treated on the
same basis for determining property taxes there is not an issue.
MOTION: Motion was made by O'Connor, seconded by Moquist, in Appeal No. 3
to reduce the estimated market value to $134,000. The motion carried 5-0.
Appeal No. 25 —Srikanth Renukunta, 12795 College View Dr., #105
Srikanth Renukunta, 12795 College view Dr. #105, appeared before the Board
explaining that he is okay with the determination of reducing his value from$142,500
to $130,000. However, when they went to a bank for a loan the value of their property
was placed at$90,000 to $95,000 and no more than that.
Pidcock explained this Board's job is to determine what the property was worth
January 2, 2011 for 2012 taxes. The Assessor has determined this property is valued
at$130,000 as of January 2, 2011.
Renukunta said the bank did an appraisal in December and valued their property at
$90,000 and they also did an appraisal last month that valued their property at
$95,000. Duoos said he feels $95,000 is low for this property. The Board just
reviewed a similar property in the same development and valued it at$134,000.
Renukunta said his home has one fewer room and there is an extra bath but it is not
plumbed. Duoos said he believes the bank is being extremely conservative because
they do not know what is going to happen with the market. Renukunta said he
purchased the property for$83,000 in December, 2010. Sinell said it may be difficult
to obtain a loan on this property since it was purchased as a foreclosure in December.
Duoos said lenders may find it difficult to increase the value of this property so
quickly since it was just purchased for$83,000. Pidcock said generally speaking, they
would want a certain percentage of equity in the property in order to obtain a home
equity line of credit.
Renukunta said he would like to see the value of his property reduced more than the
$130,000 value. Duoos pointed out it was originally assessed at$142,500. He said
they need to be consistent and properties like the petitioners are easy to find for
consistency. The values used for comparables ranged from $133,800 to $150,000.
MOTION: Motion was made by Johnson, seconded by Moquist, in Appeal No. 25 to
reduce the estimated market value to $130,000. The motion carried 5-0.
BOARD OF APPEAL AND EQUALIZATION MINUTES
May 10, 2011
Page 3
Appeal#4 —Andrew Feng, 9630 Belmont Lane
MOTION: Motion was made by Johnson, seconded by Duoos, in Appeal No. 4 to
reduce the estimated market value to $275,000. The motion carried 5-0.
Appeal#13 —Michael Steidle, 18947 Magenta Bay
MOTION: Motion was made by Duoos, seconded by Johnson, in Appeal No. 13 to
reduce the estimated market value to $685,000. The motion carried 5-0.
Appeal#15 —Jean Merry, 6970 Edgebrook PI
MOTION: Motion was made by O'Connor, seconded by Duoos, in Appeal No. 15 to
reduce the estimated market value to $530,000. The motion carried 5-0.
Appeal#16 —Dipak Shah, 7993 Lismore Cir
MOTION: Motion was made by O'Connor, seconded by Duoos, in Appeal No. 16 to
affirm the estimated market value of$339,800. The motion carried 5-0.
Appeal#17 —Linda Stilwell, 14393 Wilson Drive
MOTION: Motion was made by Johnson, seconded by Moquist, in Appeal No. 17 to
reduce the estimated market value to $162,000. The motion carried 5-0.
Appeal#18 —Laura Unze, 15685 Manitoba Rd.
MOTION: Motion was made by Duoos, seconded by Moquist, in Appeal No. 18 to
reduce the estimated market value to $140,000. The motion carried 5-0.
Appeal#20—Nicole & Paul Lainhart, 17625 Lorence Way
MOTION: Motion was made by Johnson, seconded by Moquist, in Appeal No. 20 to
reduce the estimated market value to $218,000. The motion carried 5-0.
Appeal#21 —Mark Ahmann, 9426 Olympia Drive
MOTION: Motion was made by Moquist, seconded by Johnson, in Appeal No. 21 to
reduce the estimated market value to $440,000. The motion carried 5-0.
Appeal#23 —Katrina Buetow, 18528 Wynnfield Rd.
MOTION: Motion was made by Duoos, seconded by Moquist, in Appeal No. 23 to
reduce the estimated market value to $395,000. The motion carried 5-0.
BOARD OF APPEAL AND EQUALIZATION MINUTES
May 10, 2011
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Appeal#24 —Matt Johnson, 11553 Welters Way
MOTION: Motion was made by Moquist, seconded by Johnson, in Appeal No. 24 to
reduce the estimated market value to $480,000. The motion carried 5-0.
Appeal#27 —Al Keenan, 18515 Pioneer Trail
MOTION: Motion was made by Johnson, seconded by Moquist, in Appeal No. 27 to
reduce the estimated market value to $100,000. The motion carried 5-0.
Appeal#26 —Tim Ashenfelter, 14801 Pioneer Trail
Johnson said he had spent a considerable amount of time today reviewing the
information on this appeal. He indicated he is not a commercial broker and asked for
an explanation that would make sense as to why they have two appraisals in the
$2 million range and the City's value over$4 million. Sinell explained a $1 million
difference is because the appraisals are only of the leaseholder's interest and only
address the value of the facilities. The City's appraisal has to look at the value of the
entire property which includes the buildings Ashenfelter owns and the land he leases.
Sinell further explained typical land leases provide for the tenant to pay the taxes on
the land. However, the entire value has to be determined for tax purposes. The tenant
agrees to pay rent and the taxes for that land. State law is very clear that if the State of
Minnesota or any other units of government make property available to a person,
company or corporation for private use it is taxable as if that person who is renting
the property owns it.
O'Connell asked how the City values those kinds of properties. She asked if business
is down would that make the tax value go down. Sinell responded like condos, if the
foreclosure is at$85,000 it will bring the value of other properties down. As industry
drops values will go down. Johnson questioned if Ashenfelter's income has dropped
considerably how the value of his property can stay up. Sinell explained in looking at
the City's appraisal they will see that there were nine sales of airport hangars in the
Twin Cities in the last couple of years, after the downturn of the economy. Sinell
reviewed the comparables with the Board stating since February of 2009 there have
been seven sales in the seven-county metro area in the sales range of$4 per square
foot in Hassan Township and Savage to $16.10 per square foot in Shakopee. It is the
City's opinion that the land leased at Flying Cloud should relate to the value of
similar industrial property. Two of the seven sales were intended for industrial use.
Johnson said based on the information presented, it appears what is stated in
Ashenfelter's letter is really misstating the facts as they are. He is looking at a
$3 million appraisal that does not include land. Johnson asked if Ashenfelter
understands that. Sinell said it appears Ashenfelter is not valuing his real estate but is
valuing his business. His contention is since his business is off by 40 percent the real
estate value must also be off 40 percent. Ashenfelter's main business is not the rental
of real estate but the sale,repair and fueling of aircraft and it is possible that business
is down quite a bit.
BOARD OF APPEAL AND EQUALIZATION MINUTES
May 10, 2011
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Moquist pointed out in 2006 the property was valued at$4.25 million and the tax
value is slightly higher than that. He indicated it went up considerably in 2009 and
down in 2010. He questioned why this occurred. Sinell explained this is a typical
change in the commercial market and continues to go up longer than residential.
Johnson asked if the success of a business has a direct correlation to the value of the
property. Sinell stated the City Assessor feels the building is worth $3.448 million
and land is valued at$1.327 million. One appraisal Ashenfelter had indicates the
value of the buildings at$3.6 million and the other appraisal values the buildings in
the mid $3 million.
MOTION: Motion was made by Johnson, seconded by O'Connor to affirm the
original estimated market value at$4,342,000. The motion carried, 5-0.
C. SIGN BOARD OF APPEAL AND EQUALIZATION DOCUMENTS
III. ADJOURN THE 2011 BOARD OF APPEAL AND EQUALIZATION MEETING
MOTION: Motion was made by Johnson, seconded by O'Connor, to adjourn the 2011
Board of Appeal and Equalization meeting. The motion carried 5-0 and the meeting was
adjourned at 8:05 p.m.