07-13-1995 Park Commission Minutes

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MINUTES OF THE REGULAR ORONO PARK COMMISSION MEETING HELD C1N JULY 13, 1995 (#4 - Consideration of Land or Money for Park Dedication Fund - Continued) Wilson said she is in favor of quantities af sma11, narrow roads like Fox Street. She feels this type of atmosphere is what draws people to Orono and did not want the City to Iose this. Wilsan is in favor of separated trail segments along major arteries. Flint agreec{ that there was nc� n�eed to build a trail along Fax Street at this time. He also favored keeping Fox Street the nanow, winding road it is at this time. But, he said, we also need to consider what may happen in the future. The City has a fi6' easement an F'ox Street; and instead of the 40'width now, the City could, at some future time, build a wider road with a sepai-ated bike trait and have no need ta obtain any furtller easements. If the City acquired trail easements at the present time, at some future time, it would have the option to buiid a narrow, off-road walking or wali�ng/biking trail off of the main right of way. McMillan did not think this was fair to homeowners, requiring them to have a trail in frant of their homes, preferring winding, thru-the-woods#ype trails. Flint said this would ailaw the area to have a place to run or jog if the road were to change. Wilson emph$sized the need to make any ch�ices carefiilly. VVhiie sa.id there are trails for transit and trails to meander thruout your neighborhood. White said he�vas in favar of drawing a community together, Wilson commented that peaple come to Orono for privacy and wou�d have chosen ather areas if they wanted a communi�y feei. Leaf Street was cited as a goad example of a meandering road where a 2' walking path is sufficient. There is light traffic, and there would be no need for easements ar ft�r widening the road. Witson said she was eoncerned with grivate property rights and whether this would lower p�-operty values. McMillan agreed wit�i Wii,r,on, adding that there is an east/west trail and a possible future trail an the Dakota rail_ McMillan further noted that Mr. Smith was not in favor af a trail on Fox Street and reemphasized, with Willow Drive and Luce Trail, a Fox Street trail would be redundant. Flint said the discussion enabled the Commission to gain each others'viewpoint for a decisic�n at the August meeting. He urged each Commissioner to view the property a.nd think about tonight's discassian, so we could vate ai the next meeting without rehashing the same discussion. 5