Laserfiche WebLink
MINUTES OF THE <br />ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING <br />Monday, November 18, 2019 <br />6:30 o’clock p.m. <br />_____________________________________________________________________________________ <br /> <br />Page 24 of 46 <br /> <br />Mr. Griffith said there's no objection to that and the applicants can work with City Staff to resolve that. <br />You take an alleyway that was granted in 1909 with nothing more than that description, and instead you <br />exchange that for a Permanent Easement which will describe exactly how this property is best used. As <br />the City looks at the long-term of access of the lake, it makes sense that the City would focus on access <br />points where either there are existing improvements or there's an opportunity to put in existing <br />improvements. The grades and erodible soils do not allow for that in this location, which is the basis for <br />making the request. He understands the Public Works Director's need to want to provide access to the <br />sanitary line. He thinks there are appropriate conditions of approval that could attach to this vacation that <br />will allow that to go forward and then everybody essentially wins. If the City decided to open up this <br />right-of-way for public access, it would dramatically change the condition of the property. He does not <br />think it is an appropriate place for access; there is an access 600 feet away. <br /> <br />Chair Ressler opened the public hearing at 8:45 p.m. <br /> <br />Mr. Phil Otto, 4116 Highwood Road, said he has lived on two different properties on Highwood Road for <br />32 years and they have been using this Easement as a winter sports access to Lake Minnetonka the whole <br />time. They look at it as a real benefit to living in the neighborhood and would like to keep it that way. <br /> <br />Mr. Jim Cleary, 4109 North Shore Drive, stated he has lived there for 38 years and has been using the <br />access in the summer and winter for various sports and different things. He used to maintain it by keeping <br />the shrubs cut back as well as keeping the rocks along the shoreline in good repair so they could access it <br />with snowmobiles, and so forth. He is in favor of keeping it as a public access so people can continue to <br />use it. In addition, there are no fire hydrants in the area so it's a good spot for accessibility for the fire <br />departments if needed. <br /> <br />Mr. Jon Bakke, 4150 Highwood Road, said he has lived there for 19 years. He is directly across from the <br />access and it is the only access that he knows of to the lake. The one down a little ways seems to go <br />through somebody's yard. He said the access is one of the most appealing things when he first moved <br />there that he found out about. He indicated the two properties are already on the lake; they have lake <br />access. There are all kinds of neighbors behind them that have no access, and it is something that he really <br />wants to keep. <br /> <br />Mr. Jim Cusack, 4140 Highwood Road, said he and his wife have lived across the street from the lake <br />access for 28 years. One of the factors that had them stay was the fact they had lake access right across <br />the street. For the people that live on his side of the road, not only does it give them access to use the lake, <br />it also adds value to their homes and it gives everybody that doesn't live on the lake access to recreation. <br /> <br />Ms. Laurie Celms and Mr. Erick Celms, 1535 Highwood Lane, said they have used the alley for many <br />years and have lived there for 28 years. She stated it has never been closed off. They have helped <br />maintain it, kept it clean, used it for snowmobiling, for lake access. It's been a great opportunity for them