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MINUTES OF THE <br />ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION <br />Monday, October 21, 2019 <br />6:30 o'clock p.m. <br />Thiesse asked when the road project will be reviewed by the City Engineer. <br />Barnhart indicated it will be this winter. <br />Thiesse asked if the cul-de-sac will fit on the right-of-way. <br />Barnhart indicated it will not and that the City would like to make it as standard as possible for <br />emergency vehicle access. <br />Thiesse stated the three concerns he heard related to access, safety, traffic, and turnaround. Thiesse stated <br />he usually is not in favor of vacations, but that a turnaround will be provided with a cul-de-sac. While the <br />owner is going to benefit greatly by this, he will also be giving back so the City will not be losing <br />anything. If a formal plan that meets all the requirements is submitted, he would likely be in support of it. <br />Gettman stated a decision at this point would be premature and that he would be in favor of tabling it at <br />this point. <br />Bollis indicated he agrees with Staff. Bollis asked if anyone sees a benefit going away for the City to be <br />able to continue that access down to Orono Orchard Road. <br />Thiesse noted there is a fairly steep embankment and a number of trees. <br />Barnhart stated engineering staff has not looked into that as a serious turnaround at this point, but that <br />Staff could come back with some preliminary information from the city engineer about any issues that he <br />observes. <br />Libby asked where the access is currently to the trail. <br />Barnhart pointed out the informal path on the overhead, noting that it comes off of Orono Orchard Road <br />South and then cuts into an open area. <br />Libby stated it is essentially an open access for anyone that could walk in. <br />Barnhart stated he believes there might be a number of informal access points and there are some <br />opportunities to make a better access. <br />Ressler asked if the access is out of kindness right now rather than obligation. <br />Barnhart stated it historically has been the access point and that the property owners recognize the City's <br />goals in terms of access, and they would like to maintain that. <br />Libby stated the willingness of the applicant to agree with Staff s proposed conditions, which all seem <br />pretty reasonable, leads him to agree with the need for those but that he needs to look at it on a plan. <br />Libby stated he is aware of the fact that in Orono there was a cul-de-sac that existed for 50 years on a plan <br />and the City actually had a right-of-way to extend the cul-de-sac for additional development. The safety <br />issues that were brought up tonight, a lot of those were dramatically reduced with the cul-de-sac. <br />Page 6 of 20 <br />