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MINUTES OF THE <br />ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION <br />October 19, 2020 <br />6:00 o’clock p.m. <br />_____________________________________________________________________________________ <br /> <br />1. LA20-000051 NIH HOMES, 4465 NORTH SHORE DRIVE, VACATION (Staff: Laura <br />Oakden) <br /> <br />Brian Benson O/B/O NIH Homes, Applicant, was present. <br /> <br />Staff presented a summary of packet information. Ms. Oakden noted Planning Department Staff supports <br />the request to vacate the unimproved alley. <br /> <br />Chair Ressler said as policy they must notify all service providers, Frontier being one of them, and asked <br />if Frontier had an issue with it, would that change Staff’s recommendation. <br /> <br />Ms. Oakden replied no, and noted in the recommendation, for Staff to approve the proposed alley <br />vacation contingent on any easement requests by utility companies. All utility companies have responded <br />with the exception of Frontier, and none have requested easements. <br /> <br />Gettman asked if there is any idea as to what caused the alley to be required in the first place. <br /> <br />Ms. Oakden said it was out of a plat in 1889 and she assumes it was before North Shore Drive was there; <br />these were cabin lots and the alley was the access to those lots. She noted over time portions of the alley <br />have been vacated and this is the final portion. <br /> <br />Kirchner asked regarding Frontier, did Ms. Oakden say there was a contingency that this would be <br />vacated assuming there is not an easement request from any utilities. <br /> <br />Ms. Oakden replied it is contingent on any easement requests, so if there is an easement request before <br />City Council, they adopt their easement request. She stated it is not typical that they get easement <br />requests through Frontier so she would not anticipate one but she did put it in the motion. <br />Kirchner asked if that contingency expires at some point, is he hearing that expiration would be once it <br />goes to the City Council. <br /> <br />Ms. Oakden said yes, City Council would then take all input into consideration with their action. <br /> <br />Brian Benson, 201 East Lake Street, Wayzata, O/B/O NIH Homes, (the current owner of 4465 North <br />Shore Drive) noted he has spoken with both neighbors who have indicated they’d like to get this cleaned <br />up; the alley goes through one neighbor’s garage as it has for 50 years or so. <br /> <br />Chair Ressler opened the public hearing at 6:06 p.m. <br /> <br />Chair Ressler closed the public hearing at 6:06 p.m. <br /> <br />Gettman moved, Libby seconded, to approve LA20-000051, 4465 North Shore Drive, Vacation of <br />Unimproved Alley. VOTE: Ayes 6, Nays 0. <br /> <br />58 <br />58