02-27-2017 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, February 13, 2017 7:00 o'clock p.m. brush, telephone poles, fences, and large boulders. Bieker stated during the construction of the monuments, they thought it was a private driveway and therefore the setbacks would not be applicable. Bieker stated they were informed the monuments were too close to the road after the as -built survey was submitted. Bieker noted the property line goes almost to the center off the private road and the pavement actually gets wider in that area. Bieker stated people tend to stay further away from the monuments than what it appears from the photographs. Bicker stated he is here to talk about the intent of the ordinance. In Planning Staff's report and in the proposed resolution it talks about accepting variances that are in harmony with the general purpose or intent of the ordinance. Two items that were pointed out was that they are attempting to maintain a clear zone off the roadway to preserve visibility through the roadway and to allow for snow removal, snow storage, and maintenance of the road. Bieker stated as the Council can see from the pictures, there has been no problem with winter maintenance of the road, which is done by the homeowners and not the City. There also was not an issue with snow removal from the Andersen's property. Bieker stated the monuments are also lit, which has been helpful to the people who tend to walk along the roadway. Bicker noted people cannot park on the street and that it is literally wide enough for one car to go down. Because this lot was vacant for a number of years, people started to use this property as a place to pull off onto in order to get out of the way of another oncoming car. As a result, people are now driving into Mr. Andersen's property and onto his landscaping. Bieker stated the monuments help in several different ways and that they do not feel the monuments are going against the intent of the ordinance. Bieker stated if this was a busy city street and being maintained by the City, he could see some concern, but that in their view the monuments do not go against the ordinance. Bieker stated for those reasons he would ask the City Council to consider allowing the monuments to stay. Bieker stated had they been informed during the permitting process and turning in their surveys, they would have placed them in a different location. Bieker noted the house is very close to the road due to the wetlands on the property and the configuration of the septic system. In addition, anybody who visits the property has to park in the driveway since there is no on -street parking. Andersen stated the residents are responsible for the snow removal on the road and that he has talked to the contractor and the monuments have caused no issues. Andersen indicated he also spoke with the trash/recycling contractor and he has not had any problems. Andersen noted the road is wider in that section by the monuments and that other people on the roadway have boulders and monuments and trees within ten feet of the road. Andersen stated his monuments are lit and helps the people who are walking down to the park. Andersen stated from a safety standpoint, the monuments are an improvement. Andersen stated he also has a neighbor who provided a letter in support of the monuments. Andersen commented they are not trying to do something after the fact but that they were trying to do something that looked nice and improve the safety in the area. Bieker stated the neighbor who submitted a letter opposing the monuments has now submitted a letter in support of the monuments. Page 8 of 18