04-14-2003 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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3.The alley provides a potential pedestrian connection from the Casco Avenue / Caroline Avenue / Ethel Avenue neighborhood to the City beach at Carman Avenue. 4.While a portion of the alley south of the applicant ’s property may be wetland, the possibility for use of the alley in the future via a walkway through the wetlands, or for cross-countr>’ skiing and snowshoeing access to the Lake via the beach in the winter, should not be minimized. 5.The property adjacent to the alley directly behind the applicant's property is City- owned undeveloped land, used for stomiwater drainage purposes. The City cannot predict the value of this alley as a corridor for future stormwater needs, but the City should not eliminate any possibilities. Likewise, as City land, the area behind the applicant ’s property may have potential park uses that are currently not envisioned, and this alley provides potential access for such use. 6.While past utility use of the alley may be minimal, the City cannot predict the need for future utility use of the corridor, and because it connects two main residential streets, there are likely po.ssible future uses for public utilities (such as sewer & water, gas, telephone, electric, cable TV, or other communications needs) that are as yet unknown; and WHEREAS, the City Council in recent years has gained a strong awareness of the value of public access to the lake. This corridor has potential to provide connectivity between an off- lake neighborhood and the lake. The Council is generally reluctant to vacate public rights-of-way that are in u.se. especially in Orono’s defined Urban Area (the V2- acre and I-acre zones, including Casco Point). While this alley may have had minimal use in the past, it has significant potential for future public use. I he Orono 2000-2020 Community Management Plan. Pages 4A-32 & 4A-33 regarding preservation of lake access, supports the maintaining of lake access corridors and is applicable to this request e\ en though this alley does not directly abut the lake. NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the petition of Richard Kail for vacation of a portion of alley w ithin the plat of Casco Heights is hereby denied. Page 2 of3 % :• il i •* I :