10-27-1997 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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^ V , i October 8, 1997 Mayor Gabriel Jabbour Council Members: J. Diann Goetten, Charles Kelley, Barbara Peterson and Richard Flint Dear Distinguished Representatives; I requested council from the City of Orono Park Board at their meeting on 10/6/97 regarding my property at Stubb's Bay Road where it meets Bayside (County 84). This letter is to summarize the issues discussed and to accompany the recommendations of the Park Board. We own the lakefront property adjoining the “Stubb’s Bay Access”. For some years the City of Orono adapted what is now our property to be a public lake access and placed its removable dock there. This adaptation includ^ the replacement of natural vegetation and shoreline with gravel. This has led to a signiflcant liability and safety concern due to trespassing. The trespassing has included fishing, swimming access, picnicking and parties, boat launching and horse and snowmobile traffic. We have met %vith much confrontation when we have attempted to restrict such activities. We are requesting that if the city continues to provide lake access in this area that they make the access completely on public property. This could be accomplished with a clearly posted boardwalk to the dock. Since this intersection is a high traffic, winding road with no shoulder, we request that the area be posted “no parking”. (There is parking available at Bederwood Park.) Further, we request that the City of Orono remove the public access they created and restore it to a residential application without the appearance of a public access. This can be accomplished by removing the ^vel bed that was laid and restoring the shoreline to again be consistent in elevation with that to the east. We will restore the plantings. Finally, we are deeply concerned with the safety and liability of snowmobile drivers who, in the past, have crossed Stubb’s Bay at considerable speed to come up our propeitjr onto Stubb’s Bay Road. What they have apparently thought was an access will no longer be accessible and we fear crashes will re^t. We recommend that flashing lights be posted which are visible from the road and the lake as an alert to a change in conditions. Thank you for your attention to these matters. We want to do our part to maintain the safety and beauty of our city. lly submitt^Respectfiill; Lisa Olsen 1