05-11-1999 Public Hearing - Woodhill CC

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05^11/93 15:31 HO.862 Foil LINDQUIST & VENNUM p.l.l.p. Under the transportation plan, both Orono Orchard Road and County Road 15 are designated as -‘scenic parkways.” “Local streets” are defined as “local streets or public streets that functi on to providejlirect access to abutting properties . Local streets carry traffic within neighborhoods rather than through traffic between neighborhoods. Intersections with collector streets arc controlled by stopping the local street traffic.” Woodhill Avenue currently is a local Street. Under Woodhill’s proposed amendment, it would remain a dead.end street and wnulH serve only the abutting property owners, including Woodhill Country Club. Woodhill Avenue is not and will not become a through street. Contrary- to Mr. Malkerson ’s suggestion that use of Orono Orchard Road by members of Woodhill Country Club is inconsistent with the CMP, the CMP specifically provides that a “scenic parkway ” is designed to “provide access to recreational areas.” CMP 7-16. Since the CMP classifies Woodhill Country Club as a “recreational park ” area, it is fully consistent with the CMP for Orono Orchard Road to provide access to persons using the recreation facilities of Woodhill Country Club. Indeed, the vast majority, if not all, of the members who would use the Woodhill Avenue access already use Orono Orchard Road. In summary, Woodhill Counoy Club’s proposal to place new and additional restrictions on its 1968 CUP is fully consistent with the CMP. As an abutting property owner providing park and recreational facilities in the rural residential area, use of scenic parkways on a dead-end public street abutting the recreational facility is exactly what was contemplated by the CMP. As the City Engineer ’s recent report on County Road 15 makes clear, the only way the City of Orono can immediately, efficiently, and inexpensively address the CMP’s overarching goal of the health and safety of ajl Orono citizens is to grant Woodhill’s application. V. The Five Residents Opposing the Application Failed to Show Any Threat to Public Safety The silences in the letters of the residents and their attorney Malkcrson and traffic engineer Benshofl are far more telling than any of the .statements contained in the letters. It is the points that they do not dispute that are the truly relevant considerations for the city council in this matter. These concede, make no mention of, or otherwise do not dispute the following: 1. Use of Woodhill Avenue access will make for safer travel for scores of Woodhill families that live west and north of the Club. 2. Use of Woodhill Avenue will make for safer travel for thousands of motorists on County Road 15. DoeW I I 19Q04M