06-22-2020 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, June 8, 2020 6:00 o’clock p.m. _____________________________________________________________________________________ Page 11 of 21 is within the 75-foot setback area. The reduction in hardcover close to the lake will reduce the amount and rate of stormwater runoff and reduce the amount of unburned hydrocarbons, salt, and sediment entering the lake. The existing lake access does not actually provide any access to the lake because the lakeshore has been completely overgrown with aquatic vegetation for a number of years, and is never used because it is not possible to do so. Two separate portions of the east-west alley on the east side of Westlake Street were vacated years ago, the most recent in the 1990s. Further, almost every house on the street has its own lakeshore, so they would not have a use for public access even if it was usable. Easements can be provided for drainage and sanitary sewer maintenance. At the same time, having a dead-end street of substandard width with no cul-de-sac causes frequent problems for delivery trucks, garbage haulers, and lawn services. Fortunately, there have not been any fires or medical emergencies, because Westlake Street is not prepared for them. The problems intensify when anyone parks in the street, which is barely wide enough for two-way traffic. In addition to fire trucks, another type of vehicle never seen in 18 years is a school bus, because it would be impossible for one to turn around. He said they had renters at this location with school-aged children. They walked the kids the full length of the street to catch the bus on Bayside. There are lake accesses nearby that are well-suited and popular for a variety of recreational uses. The City maintains a fishing dock at the south end of Stubbs Bay Road, which is also used for launching canoes, kayaks, and swimming. In the winter it is used by snowmobilers and cross-country skiers to get to the Luce Line Trail and Bederwood Park. The existing recreational facilities are within walking distance of Westlake Street. Also, on Stubbs Bay is the Eastlake Street access, which adjoins a larger neighborhood area of homes without lakeshore with a lake access, which could see more use if it were improved. The DNR lake access facility is two miles away on Maxwell Bay with ramps, a fishing dock, and toilet facilities. He said Hennepin County boat ramp and trailer parking on North Arm Bay is also nearby. When complete, the Westlake Street neighborhood will be well-served with improved water quality, on-street parking, and an appropriate terminal for the safe and convenient reversal of traffic movement. The City will also benefit from the generous contribution for recreational purposes or for whatever purpose the City deems appropriate. He said he is confident this will improve traffic function and home values for the neighborhood and at the same time represents the highest and best use of the property. Walsh noted Seals lives in the area and asked what her thoughts were about the access, etc. Seals said she did not know how anyone could access the lake from there. Walsh asked if Seals felt she was pretty well-served from the one on Stubbs Bay. Seals stated she did and did not know how much the access on the other side is used because it is on a dead end and she does not typically go there. The one on Stubbs Bay is used a lot, including for fishing and paddleboarding. Crosby noted, in order to access the one being discussed, a machete would need to be used. Walsh said these accesses are on a case-by-case basis and the Council has made it a little bit of a mission to clean some of them up. He stated this is on a dead-end street into a marsh that no one can get through, and it seems to be a reasonable opportunity to clean it up and have a turnaround that makes sense in the neighborhood. He said it is bizarre that it is a two-acre zoning and the plat in the late 1800s/early 1900s has half-acre units. There are long, skinny half-acre properties. He noted that Mr. Erickson started combining some of the lots and trying to make them more useful. He said Mr. Erickson has got to give up