05-11-1999 Public Hearing - Woodhill CC

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• 05/11/9= 15:32 M0.SS2 P014 LINDQUIST & VENNUM p.l.l.p. and clearer than Woodhill Road, Smith Avenue. Lyman Avenue. Russell Avenue. Dickinson Street, Orono Orchard Road, and numerous other residential streets in the City of Orono. Residents of all of those streets are expected to carry on their normal activities of driving, biking, and walking. Woodhill Avenue is approximately 25 feet wide. This variation from “the City’s 28 foot standard for a public residential street,** the City staff docs not view as “a limiting factor for the level of traffic currently proposed by Woodhill.” Staff Report at page 10. That is it. In nineteen pages of submissions by counsel and traflic engineer, only one-half of one page is devoted to identifying the actual problems the proposed secondary access will allegedly cause for the residents of Woodhill Avcnuc.and the Woodhill Ridge private road. However strongly felt, none of the identified impacts on the neighborhood outw'eigh the significant increase in traffic safety on County Road 15 for both Woodhill Country Club families and for the many citizens of Orono and others who travel on County Road 15. Conclusion Woodhill’s current application to amend its 1968 CUP can only be reviewed and decided in the context of Woodhill’s ownership and historical use of its property throughout this century. When Woodhill bought the property, the only existing access was through the public street then platted as Hamlet Street, and now known as “WoodhiU Avenue.” Since 1915, u has paid taxes on that property to the City of Orono. When Woodhill Avenue needed to be improved for the three new homes in Woodhill Ridge, the Woodhill property was assessed. Woodhill used the access for both foot traffic, bicycle traflic, and vehicular traffic in every decade sine 1915. When zoning was created in the 1960 ‘s, Woodhill’s use of its propeny, including its secondary access to Woodhin Avenue, was immediately permitted by the Village of Orono. As is its right, Woodhill has. from time to time, placed various gates, chains, etc. across driveways. When it decided to put a very strong chain up in 1980, it wrote to the City saying it was limiting regular vehicular traffic but reserving its ri^t to reopen the road at any time. As additional insurance, ihc grounds manager continued to drive cars and tractors up and down the road even after the chain was put in place. After buying property abutting the public road, paying taxes, paying Special assessments, using the road, and Nvriling to the City about its decision to open and close its driveway, Woodhill has both a propeny right and CUP right to use its access. Wliolly independent of Woodhill Country Club’s rights to use ilS CCntury-old access to Woodhill Avenue, the City Engineer’s repon on County Road 15 establishes the immediate need to restore the secondary access on Woodhill Avenue. The problems faced on County Road 15 are well-known to the council members personally aiid are amply quantified and described in the City Engineer’s report. The problem is getting much worse, not better. The City Engineer’s report studied and commented on ten improvement concepts and eight specific improvement