03-17-2003 Planning Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

CMFFaft4A« TnMMP»rtotkf fUm LAKE ACCESS PRESERyATiO\ A^D MANAGEMENT With more than 40 miles of Lake Minnetonka shoreline and nearly 5 miles of additional lake shorelines. Orono’s lakes provide a significant recreational resource for all Orono residents, not just for those wlio ov^n property abutting the lakes. This value u-as long ago realized by the City fathers, as uvll as hy early land developers. In order to provide lake access for the general public, as uiell as to provide for fire department access to the lake as a water source, a number of lake access corridors u*ere created as the shoreland developed. These t>'pically are platted, dedicated right-of- ways leading from the local road system to the shoreline, and arc . commonly from 16' to 66' in width. The historic level of use of these right-of-ways (sometimes referred to os ‘Tire lanes" o. "lake access roads") ranges from minimal to year-round. Certain of these corridors have b^n maintained by the City for local swimming h :hes or as winter snowmobile and ice-fishing accesses. Certain acce are provided with docks for fishing, and some have ramp areas suitable for launching a small boat. However, most do not have designated parking available, and are primarily intended to serve the neighborhot^ rather than the general public. A number of these access corridors have steep topography and e.xperience a relatively low level of tisage. The value of these corridors to the general public both now and in the future is too great to be measured. >Mule an access corridor or fire lane may appear to an adjacent landowner as abandoned, there may well be a future public need for that corridor that may not be obvious today The Minnesota Supreme Court in 1944 (Application of Baldwin, et al No. 33721 for vacation of a platted dedicated lake access road) upheld the value of retaining the public's right to access the lake. In on excerpt from the findings of the Court: *‘7hb court retires mo proof that Lake Minnetonka b a prleeleu heritage of the people of Minnesota, to be preserved and passed on to posterity. Judicial metke ulU be taken of the fact that It b one of the mtost precious Jeweb In the string of Ten Thousand Lakes of which Minnesota b so Justly proud... Because of Its wide expanse and proxImBp to our metropolitan areas. It b much frelented and used for boating, fishing, pknkklng and bathing - perhaps more than any ether lake In the state, lb shore line of nearly 100 miles b dotted ivkik permanent homes and summer cottages, not only at Us waters edge, but extending far back from the shore. But the use of the take b not confined to dwellers on Its shore or nearby. During the summer season especially, b b the meceafor thousands upon thousands ofurbanUes, not sofortunote as to possess a lake home, who -young and old alike - seek ks shores and waters for diverse recreational purposes. To those who do not Indttige In active recreation. It affords tite oppommUy of communing wUh nature at ks best Hlth the ktereose kt the permanent City •rOroM CeaiauBlty hlaaagcaical Plaa Upwmhar SM P«tc4A-J2