01-09-2023 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING DECEMBER 12, 2022 6:00 o’clock p.m. _____________________________________________________________________________________ Page 6 of 14 Mayor Walsh noted the previous owner lived there for 30-40 years and came to the City Council in 2018 and the City Council at that time said it would be fine with the condition regarding Saga Hill. He spoke about some disingenuous social media posts about a large development next to Saga Hill Preserve. He asked Johnson if it is five acres there. Johnson replied it is under five acres. Mayor Walsh noted one could put three, maybe four max, if one wanted to subdivide and build. He clarified it is not a huge development as it has been said on social media. Crosby asked to clarify that Hattie Place has never been developed at all. Johnson noted the existing garage is in the middle of Hattie Place. Mayor Walsh stated roads have never been built there. Printup welcomed members of the public to speak on the topic. Wendy Williamson, 2200 Plymouth Road, Minnetonka, is the executor and heir of the estate of Christopher Morgart, who owned the 15 acre property at 1003 Wildhurst Trail which consists of five acres with a house and access to a channel in Forest Lake, plus a parcel of 10 wooded acres. Ms. Williamson is here tonight because of the misinformation being spread about the property from neighbors, some of whom are angry that they could not buy it. Ms. Williamson clarified she still owns the 10 acres and sold the 5 acre parcel to Matt Johnson who is currently remodeling the house. Mr. Johnson has no plans to over-develop the property for himself nor sell it to a developer. Ms. Williamson trusts Mr. Johnson because a good friend has known Mr. Johnson his entire life. She had a fiduciary responsibility to the estate to sell it for a good price and even though it could have been sold to a developer for twice the price, Ms. Williamson chose not to. Mr. Morgart did not want the land re-shaped, nor the trees cut down, and she is honoring that. She stated the house and garage were built in 1946 and the property was purchased in 1956, the channel was dug in 1961, and the adjoining 10 acres was purchased in the mid-1970s. She clarified the request for lane vacation is only for the 5 acres and not the 10 acres, there are no fire lanes cutting through the 10 acres, there is an easement on the south side between a one acre lot which is under development. She noted in the last two months a number of trees were cut down on that lot and some people mistakenly think that is the 1003 Wildhurst property. She clarified the easement between that lot and the 10 acres goes up to the park and it could be better marked, however no one can walk on other parcels without trespassing. If Mr. Morgart saw people running or walking in his woods he told them to get out and pointed to the south easement pass noting he did not allow anyone to ski or snowmobile through his property. Ms. Williamson said claims of having paths to the lake and accessing the channel through the yard to go fishing are wrong. The access for Wright Hennepin Power in the driveway will still exist. She stated neighbors fearing development and remembering a lot of trucks in the driveway this summer should realize that it took a lot of loads to get rid of 66 years of “stuff.” Ms. Williamson noted none of those complaining now came to help her nor to ask what was going on at the time.