11-12-2019 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION Monday, October 21, 2019 6:30 o’clock p.m. _____________________________________________________________________________________ Page 2 of 8 easement over private property, which would then provide permanent access to the Luce Line. There is presently no development plan for the property. Interest in vacating Smith Avenue came about because the City has plans to improve Smith Avenue in 2020. In looking at that project, Mr. Bonnett met with Staff on a couple of occasions and asked how the situation can be improved. The end of the road is not used unless someone gets lost on their way to 6 Smith Restaurant. Most of the pavement is in bad shape. If the vacation and cul-de-sac does not occur, the City is obligated to pave to the end of the road, and they would be putting asphalt where green space could exist. In discussing this with city officials, Staff’s best recommendation was to submit the request for a vacation. Staff’s recommendation could be, in fact, conditions for approval. Griffith reiterated that access to the Luce Line would not be lost. With the conditions of approval that are being offered by Staff, the public interest would be maintained and access to the storm sewer would also be maintained. Ressler asked if they are proposing an alternative to what is mentioned in Staff’s report as it relates to the trail easement. Griffith stated the offer is to provide an alternative public easement and Mr. Bonnett can address that. Ressler asked if he is talking about including an easement to cover the utility. Griffith stated his understanding is if a cul-de-sac were built there, it would become part and parcel of the cul-de-sac, and the manhole would be covered by an easement. Ressler asked if the biggest issue is allowing alternative access to the Luce Line. Barnhart stated the biggest issue Staff has is that those three items be illustrated on a plan. TJ Bonnett, 40 and 45 Smith Avenue, noted there have been some emails circulating in the neighborhood that might have conveyed the wrong impression of what is being proposed and that he is not here to block anyone’s access to the Luce Line. There are five access points along Smith and Lyman to the Luce Line currently. If this vacation happens, there will still be five access points, and that he wants it clear where the permanent easement will be. Bonnett indicated he is not sure where the future lot lines would be, which is why it is not depicted on the plan. When people use their GPS to find the restaurant, it unfortunately shows it located at the end of Smith Avenue. As a result, a number of cars will come down the road every weekend, which creates an unsafe condition for any children in the area. Bonnett stated he has attempted to address it with City officials at other times, and with the improvements to the road, the City would save a lot of money by not paving that area of the road. Mr. Griffith is here to help navigate what happens with the street and to do the necessary paperwork. They do not view this as some type of contested issue and in their view it would be a good solution for the neighborhood and provide some safety. The last thing they want to see is an accident happen. Bonnett indicated he has no plans to build on the vacated property except for perhaps a garage, which will