07-24-2017 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, July 10, 2017 7:00 o'clock p.m. 13. #17-3933 CATHERINE SWEET, 3405 AND 3407 CRYSTAL BAY ROAD, VACATION OF STREET - Continued Printup stated he would lean towards opposing it since from a historical perspective Orono has retained these fire lanes for lake access. Seals asked how many fire lanes the City has. Barnhart indicated there are several dozen fire lanes throughout the City but that he does not have an exact number. Seals questioned whether this would be opening Pandora's Box given the other fire lanes throughout the City. Walsh commented there are a number of issues associated with the fire lanes depending on their location and that typically the City does not do anything with them unless something comes up. Dankey asked who owns the dock that is depicted on the survey. Barnhart stated he is not aware of who owns the dock. Barnhart pointed out the four lots owned by the City. Walsh stated it was his understanding that the people who own those lots were given the right to have a dock there but that it had to be removed if the properties were ever sold. Crosby stated instead of trying to control a small piece of lakeshore, the City should look at selling some of these fire lanes to the adjacent property owners. Barnhart stated it is his understanding there is an easement over those four city -owned lots for bathing and bath rights for the benefit of other non-lakeshore properties. Barnhart stated he would need to look into it further before making a formal recommendation. Printup stated he would be opposed to relocating the right-of-way. Walsh noted the City's past policy has been to never get rid of the fire lanes but that in his view they should be judged on a case-by-case basis. Dankey commented it is a great location since it is right off of the bike trail. Seals stated it is unlikely someone from Minneapolis would know there is lake access there. Seals asked why the Planning Commission did not recommend getting rid of this fire lane. John Thiesse, Planning Commission Chair, stated it made a little bit of sense to get rid of it but the discussion focused on the fact that it is lake access near the trail. Thiesse stated it was felt there would never be another lake access created if that property was divided. The Planning Commission did talk about moving it towards the west but the discussion went towards that other property owner being given notice of the possibility of relocating the easement next to his property. Page 5 of 14