11-12-2019 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Tuesday,November 12,2019 6:00 o'clock p.m. 16. LA19-000079—STEPHANIE GRIFFIN OB/O WEEKLEY HOMES,580 SANDHILL DRIVE,TRAIL VACATION AND REALIGNMENT—RESOLUTION NO. 7043 17. LA19-000081—DAVID& STACEY ROYAL,3135 JAMESTOWN RD, VARIANCE— RESOLUTION NO. 7044 18. LA19-000082—ALEXANDER DESIGN GROUP O/B/O JOHN& CHRISTINE BUBOLTZ, 1973 FAGERNESS POINT RD—RESOLUTION NO. 7045 19. LA19-000083—JIM CLEARY EVERLAST ENTERPRISES INC.,315 CRESTVIEW AVE, VARIANCES—RESOLUTION NO. 7046 Crosby moved,Johnson seconded,to approve the Consent Agenda as submitted.VOTE: Ayes 4, Nays 0. PUBLIC COMMENTS Adam Bell, 17615 25th Avenue,Plymouth,Assistant Den Leader,Dens 8 and 9 of Pack 206,stated he brought several Scouts to the meeting to work on their advancement by attending a government meeting and thanked the City Council for their time. Walsh welcomed the group. PLANNING DEPARTMENT REPORT 20. LA19-000074—WILLIAM GRIFFITH O/B/O THEODORE BONNETT,40 AND 45 SMITH AVENUE,REQUEST FOR STREET VACATION Barnhart stated the City received a request to vacate a portion of Smith Avenue and some unimproved rights-of-way adjacent to the Luce Line.The Planning Commission reviewed and recommended denial of the request but recommended the applicant provide responses to some of the issues raised in the review. Using a map,he indicated the property location and the right-of-way to be vacated. The applicant proposed an additional easement or right-of-way to build a cul-de-sac at the southern edge of the property. A portion of Smith Avenue and the unimproved rights-of-way would be vacated north of that area.The proposal addresses two issues raised: 1)retaining right-of-way over the sanitary sewer manhole would retain that public interest;2)improves a circulation issue for motorists in the area because there is no way to turn around at the end of Smith Avenue. Currently people use private driveways to turn around, and Staff is looking for a way to do that outside of private improvements. The proposal shows an additional right-of-way/easement for the City to build a cul-de-sac which is sized according to City Code. If the property is not vacated,a turnaround would likely be created within the existing easement but is not ideal nor consistent with City Code. Barnhart said the Planning Commission also raised the need to connect Smith Avenue and the neighborhood beyond to the Luce Line, a public state trail. Currently people seem to cut through a corner of private property to access the trail, so there is a need to improve that access.The applicant also proposed an easement along the south side of 45 Smith to get from Smith Avenue to Orono Orchard Road. He indicated on a map the path users take to access the trail. He said Staff, in their review of this response,can support the vacation.The barrier the Planning Commission/City Council has to have, is Page 2 of 17