06-10-2019 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION Monday, May 20, 2019 6:30 o'clock p.m. Watershed plan and it pushed the water down to his lot and the neighbor's property. That property owner got permission from the DNR to run a direct line down, which is why that 15 -inch line was put there. Gettman asked why he has chosen to follow this path rather than pursue a variance. Paidosh stated he is following the process that was initially recommended. Erickson stated as it relates to the comments about emergency use, he does have some personal experience with that. A few years ago somebody with a boat came up to a neighbor's house and the person went in the house. The police were called, and when they arrived, the police did not ask where the fire lane was and they did not ask who owns what. Erickson indicated the police went across his lawn and out on his dock, and that he got the impression that had he objected, it really would not have mattered. The police also went on the neighboring property. Eventually the water patrol came up. Erickson stated if someone is drowning on the lakeshore, they would access in as straight of a line as possible and that the whole thing about these fire lanes being needed for emergency use is overblown. Orono has approximately 50 of these fire lanes and half of them have never been used. This one just happens to have a storm sewer on it. Ressler stated in his view there is merit for emergency access and that the problem with the Hennepin County access was that they did not have a boat at that spot, which is now allowed. Thiesse noted that was a Hennepin County right-of-way. Ressler stated there are lots of parts of Lake Minnetonka located in Orono that may not serve any future use. If there is another area that could potentially be of future use that emergency vehicles could utilize, that would be easier. Ressler stated perhaps a variance is more suitable here and easier to obtain than a vacation, which is permanent and sets a standard. Ressler stated he does not see enough mitigants here to approve the vacation. Erickson moved to recommend approval of Application No. LA19-000017, Steve and Jennifer Paidosh, 4300 North Shore Drive, subject to an easement being given. MOTION DIED FOR LACK OF A SECOND. Gettman moved, Libby seconded, to recommend denial of Application No. LA19-000017, Steve and Jennifer Paidosh, 4300 North Shore Drive. VOTE: Ayes 6, Nays 1, Erickson opposed.