12-09-2019 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday,December 9,2019 6:30 o'clock p.m. Walsh noted the Council was in the design phase last time,too. Mattick suggested the direction would be to do this in 2020. Walsh said this road is to be completed in 2020. Crosby said he thought, if the cul-de-sac was farther north,the Council would jump on board a little quicker,to have it definitely closer to the trail. Mr. Bonnett asked what purpose it would solve. Crosby said it gives it a closer connection to the trail. Mr. Bonnett stated that Seals said everyone is against them, which is categorically false. There're at least 30 neighbors that live at 45 Smith Avenue that said they cannot stand the traffic turning around in there. Two owners before that, before Ellen Phelps,they had gates with chains across their driveway because they had little kids and there were so many people turning around. Since 6Smith has opened up, it has gotten worse. He has pictures of multiple vehicles turning around, fresh tracks in the snow, from the last few days. It would be eye-opening for everybody to get a count of cars on the street. They are proposing a plan. They would like a vote on it. He thinks the proposal presented solves all of the issues, and he is not sure what moving the cul-de-sac back gets. Crosby said moving the cul-de-sac draws it closer to the trail to make sure they have access. Mr. Bonnett stated they would be providing a permanent easement trail that's as wide as the City wants it through a temporary construction easement, and asked what the purpose of moving it backwards would be other than costing more money in streets.He knows he is not giving up a lot, but it's flat land that the City needs to build a cul-de-sac to clean the area up so the next owner of 45 Smith or 40 Smith is not before the Council saying, "We really love living in Orono and it's a quiet, great place to raise our children, but what is with all this traffic on this street turning around in driveways and bowling over bushes?"It's been an issue for a long time and there's a great opportunity to address it and a plan that Staff supports, and he would really appreciate the Council taking a look at it as it's been presented. Printup moved to deny LA19-000074—William Griffith o/b/o Theodore Bonnett,40 & 45 Smith Avenue,Request For Street Vacation,to install a hammerhead at the end within the existing Right- of-Way,and ask Staff to mark off where the City property is so people can see it. Printup stated whether it's walkable isn't a concern right now, but at least everyone knows where the City land is for any future construction or work that needs to be done. Walsh asked whether there was a hammerhead there now. Barnhart answered there is not. Edwards said there is a hammerhead templated in the plans for the road. The hammerhead that is templated basically follows the easement. Page 19 of 34