12-09-2019 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday,December 9,2019 6:30 o'clock p.m. Walsh said if it is at the back, you are chewing up a ton of property for no particular reason. Usually the houses are at the end of the cul-de-sac and you go out to the houses versus bringing the cul-de-sac all the way through the yard. Mr. Theodore Bonnett, 40&45 Smith Avenue, stated he wants to get the deal done. He has had many phone calls with Barnhart,he appreciates his patience, and he is looking forward to getting a resolution. He said what is being presented is fine. A month ago, it was the path,this time the cul-de-sac is in the wrong place/the City is giving up too much, and next week it might be something else. This is what the Council asked for and what he has committed to after a lot of discussion. He hopes this is an amicable solution for everyone in the neighborhood. He thinks after this is built people will come and say, "Thank you. This is a great solution for our neighborhood. It looks good," as opposed to, "He's getting too much slough at the north end of Almo Place,"which is essentially worthless land. He said the City is welcome to carve that part off and he only included it because the City said to. Walsh asked Mr. Bonnett to answer Johnson's question regarding the cul-de-sac. Mr. Bonnett asked what the point would be of putting it another 150 feet down the road, adding that it would cost more money and no development would be happening there. The City has the easement for the path, and he asked why the City would want to pay taxpayer money like that. He added the City just presented a great budget that people should be thrilled about. Johnson said the question is, if the cul-de-sac is at the end of the property, would Mr. Bonnett not want it. Mr. Bonnett said it would be like being asked if you want your leg chopped off and then sewn on with metal or aluminum. He'd prefer not to think about that. He said he presented what the City asked for collectively and what he would like the City Council to vote on. He feels this is the solution that benefits everyone: The City,the property owners that have to deal with the turnarounds. It addresses the safety issue and the trail. Walsh said he appreciates Mr. Bonnett working with Staff and bringing it back to the Council. Johnson asked about the width of the trail,that the City would like 20 feet. Mr. Bonnett stated this would be a simple foot path,not a snowmobile trail. Crosby asked whether Mr. Bonnett had an issue with the path being 20 feet wide. Mr. Bonnett asked why he wouldn't go 50 feet wide. Mr. Bill Griffith, 8300 Norman Center Drive, Bloomington,represents TJ Bonnett. He stated he is also a City Attorney so he understands Mr. Mattick's seat.He pointed out a vacation of Right-of-Way is not an exchange, it's not the City trading land or swapping land, it's the City determining whether that land is going to be needed for Right-of-Way. If you think it is,then you hang on to it. If you don't think that's going to develop into Right-of-Way, you look at what you need to reserve in terms of the cul-de-sac and the roadway,what you need to reserve in terms of the utilities, and what you can obtain in terms of the additional easement towards the Luce Line. He and the applicant looked at this situation as, if there is an opportunity to serve the public and also serve private interests,this makes sense. If they can't get to that point tonight or at some point in the future, it does not make sense. All the residents' issues should be Page 12 of 34