09-02-2014 Park Commission Packet - Cancelled

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CMP Part 4A. Transportation Plan roads to serve new residential developments of 3 or more units; by limiting the number of curb cuts per residence; by prohibiting direct access to principal arterials; and by a number of other regulations involving the location, type and number of access points to the arterial roadway system. It is the City's policy that new direct access to arterials is to be minimized to the greatest extent possible. However, many of southern Orono's arterials near the Lake Minnetonka shoreline have historically served a dual function as both arterials and as local/collector streets, due to geographic and topographic limitations. Minimization or consolidation of existing driveway and local street access points along these unique roadways is a complex matter which will often require the cooperation of multiple property owners. The City will encourage the use of shared driveways along existing developed arterials wherever feasible. Further, the City will continue to investigate the feasibility of closing existing direct local street access points to principal and minor arterials where suitable alternative access points maybe established. LAKE ACCESS PRESERVATION AND MANAGEMENT With more than 40 miles of Lake Minnetonka shoreline and nearly 5 miles of additional lake shorelines, Orono's lakes provide a significant recreational resource for all Orono residents, not just for those who own property abutting the lakes. This value was long ago realized by the City fathers, as well as by early land developers. In order to provide lake access for the general public, as well as to provide for fire department access to the lake as a water source, a number of lake access corridors were created as the shoreland developed. These typically are platted, dedicated right-of-ways leading from the local road system to the shoreline, and are commonly from 16' to 66' in width. The historic level of use of these right-of-ways (sometimes referred to as "fire lanes" or "lake access roads") ranges from minimal to year-round. Certain of these corridors have been maintained by the City for local swimming beaches or as winter snowmobile and ice -fishing accesses. Certain accesses are provided with docks for fishing, and some have ramp areas suitable for launching a small boat. However; most do not have designated parking available, and are primarily intended to serve the neighborhood rather than the general public. A number of these access corridors have steep topography and experience a relatively low level of usage. The value of these corridors to the general public both now and in the future is too great to be measured. While an access corridor or fire lane may appear to an adjacent landowner as abandoned, there may well be a future public need for that corridor that may not be obvious today. The Minnesota Supreme Court in 1944 (Application of Baldwin, et al No. 33721 for vacation of a platted dedicated lake access road) upheld the value of retaining the public's right to access the lake. In an excerpt from the findings of the Court: City of Orono Community Management Plan 2008-2030 Page 4A-31