02-25-2002 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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#2755 Long Lake Fire Station Site February 15, 2002 Pages Sewer & Water Serv ice. Sewer and water service to the site will be provided by Long Lake. Water lines will come from the east and be looped north along Willow to the existing Long Lake water tower. Lots 1 and 2 will be served with sewer by an extension of Long Lake lines from the east. The sewer/watcr lines have been located to allow for the most cfTicient layout possible for Lot 2 given all the necessary encroachments. The preliminary plat as proposed leaves approximately 1.6 acres in Lot 2 unencumbered by wetlands, buffers, stormwater ponding or sewer/watcr easements. A future road/driveway in Lot 2 could be constructed above the sewer/water lines. Because the sewer and water lines will be tied into the Long Lake systems, no sewer or water connection charges w ill be due to Orono for the fire station site. Sewer and water connection charges for future development of residential uses on Lot 2 will have to be coordinated with Long Lake. Woodlands. The site is mostly open, with some wooded areas along the creek beds near the south and east boundaries of the property. The City's goal w ill be minimize tree removals w hen the stormwater pond is expanded to serve Lot 2. Park Dedication. The Orono Comprehensive Trail System Plan includes a future trail link along Willow Drive from Hackberry Park northward to a future trail that would parallel the new Highway 12 route westward to County Road 6 and Baker Park. In addition, the City has had discussions w ith MnDOT regarding a trail connection along the south side of the new 12 corridor east from Willow, connecting to relocated Holbrook Park in Long Lake, which abuts the cast boundary of Lot 2. Park Commission should review this preliminary plat and make a recommendation as to whether any land dedication or trail easements are necessary from this property. The City Council w ill ultimately decide whether park dedication will be waived for part or all of this plat, given the public ov. nv.rship of the site. II. Fire Station Setback Variance The setback variance for the fire station is directly attributable to the occurrence of linear wetland.*^ along the south property boundary. These wetlands must be preserved to the greatest extent possibh;, and a 16' buffer is additionally required. Due to minimum City requirements for road and shoulder widths, the road/driveway corridor had to be widened to 60' as it enters the site from Willow, and even wider to minimize wetland impacts toward the rear of Lot 1. Nevertheless, a road corridor is necesiary to access the rear of the site. A road corridor along the north lot line would be undesirable from a safety standpoint due to proximity to the Willow Drive Bridge over new 12 coupled with the dual fire appaiatus return access and residential use this corridor must serve. The most feasible location for the road corridor is south of the station, and the characteristics of the land dictate the location of the corridor. The location of the fire station is relatively fixed based on the need for parking lot access and parking stalls on the north end of the building, minimum setback requirements, and the required lengtii of the building to serve the needs of the fire department. Moving the building an additional 10 ’ northward ^o avoid the variance would have resulted in re-design of the site plan and the building.