10-22-2003 - Re: Use of right-of-way on Big Island

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I. 4, O CITY of ORONO ii 1 ,� } tiff" Municipal Offices Street Address: Mailing Address: `q$EggO % 2750 Kelley Parkway P.0. Box 66 Orono, MN 55356 Crystal Bay, MN 55323-0066 October 22, 2003 RE: Use of Right-of-Way on Big Island Dear Big Island Property Owner: It has come to the attention of the City that a variety of land alteration activities have been occurring recently on the Island without the proper permits or authority, to wit: - Removal of trees within dedicated right-of-ways without City Council approval; - Grading or otherwise altering land within dedicated right-of-ways without City Council approval; - Grading or otherwise altering land on private property without the proper land alteration permits, and in some instances without the permission of the landowner. Orono Municipal Code, Section 78-567 regulates use of the public dedicated right-of-ways on the Island. Although the City has not formally prohibited the use of motorized vehicles on the Island, no roads on the Island have been formally opened to vehicular travel by the City. The informal pathways that provide for pedestrian accessibility as well as the occasional service vehicle are mostly within dedicated right-of-ways,but in some areas they are on private property. Historically,the level of vehicular use of the Island right-of-ways was minimal and had few negative impacts. In recent years,however,the level of activity on the Island has increased, to the point where use(and in some instances abuse)of the right-of-ways for vehicular access or recreation has begun to cause serious erosion problems as well as concerns about trespass and security. You are advised to review and follow the enclosed City Ordinances,which require permits or Council action for certain uses of the right-of-ways. I would particularly direct your attention to Subsection 5, which allows for limited property-owner maintenance of adjacent right-of-ways without permits. Such maintenance activity is limited to the controlling of weeds and brush, seeding, sodding,mowing, etc.but does not include the ability to remove trees or do grading work to create roadways. Telephone(952)249-4600 • Fax(952)249-4616 www.ci.orono.mn.us