03-23-1998 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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March 15, 1998 Mr. Gabriel Jabbour Mayor Orono City Hall 2950 Kelley Parkway Orono, Minnesota 55356 9 p i;:93 C'.T\ c.- C, Re: Development of the Carpenter Property COUNCIL Meeting MAR 2 3 1998 CITVOrOHONO Dear Mr. Mayor, I do not believe that the discussion at the March 9 City Council Meeting concerning the development of the Carpenter Property was complete. Specifically, the issue of granting an easement for a bike path was not resolved. Several points need to be considered. First, the developer is willing to grant the easement. Several neighbors welcome and appreciate his offer. I am sure you can understand that a development as large as the Carpenter property is causing some anxiety, but Mr. Anderson seems to be responding to the city's and the neighbors' concerns. His offer to incorporate an easement for any possible bike path is welco Further, there is simply no reason to turn down this offer. The Planning Commission also recommended that a bike easement be incorporated into the development. While the "park contribution" will be r :duced, there would be no contribution if the property was not developed. A smaller contribution is not a loss — it is still a contribution and it will still be quite large. The easement will also allow the city to keep options open. However, the issue, unfortunately, has become which side of the Old Crystal Bay Road is better for a bike trail, rather than whether any bike trail south of the Luce Line makes any sense. The assumed destination of the this bike trail would be Noerenberg Park. While the covenants associated with Noerenberg would most likely allow construction of a bike path adjacent to the property, it makes little sense to construct a bike path to this park. The bikers would not be allowed to bike in the park, as the property north of 51 is a Wildlife Sanctuary and the property south of 51 is a small, 15.98 acre garden area. On many, if not most, summer weekends, there are weddings held at the park. Any number of bikers would be disruptive of the ceremonies. In addition, I doubt that Noerenberg would become a destination for bikers, no food or beverages are allowed in the park There are not many days when the park is open and the park receives f?w visitors. A bike path along the southern part of Old Crystal Bay Road would also raise serious safety concerns. Creating a bike crossing anywhere on Old Crystal Bay Road from Fox