Richfield has placed a moratorium on development of an area that includes property owned by the local American Legion so officials can study the feasibility of building a community center there.
But American Legion Post 435 — which has the largest membership in Minnesota — is balking at the pause, saying it limits the group's ability to move forward in selling the parcel, which could affect the sale price and ultimately the post's viability.
"This has been a frustrating process," said Adam Seamans, commander of Post 435. "It almost sounded like [the city] forgot who the property belonged to."
The moratorium temporarily halts any development that requires zoning or planning changes along five blocks of Portland Avenue and for about a half-mile of 66th Street. It doesn't prohibit selling the land.
That means developers must wait seven months to submit plans for the 4-acre property to the city, Seamans said, which "basically kills any development on site for 2021."
The Legion is selling the land, which it has owned since 1957, to cover $250,000 in taxes and vendor bills.