01-12-1987 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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121286.5 �Y' < TO: Mayor and City Council .Gi MEETING Planning Commission ,N'{1 JAN 121987 FROM: Mark Bernhardson, City Admin istrato C' DATE: December 16, 1986 CITY OF ORONO SUBJECT: A. Private Roads/County Turn Back B. City Attorney Opinion Dated 12/30/86 ISSUE - Presentation of information relative to potential additions to City owned road system. DISCUSSION - The City has for a number of years, as noted in its Comprehensive Plan, limited the City expenses by utilization of a series of private roads to service new developments. Additionally for a number of years the County has maintained a fairly extensive road system in the City of Orono in relation to the amount of City streets. The following information is provided to give you the scope of possibly upcoming issue over the next three to five years. The present breakdown as follows: - State Highways 3.16 - County Roads 30.09 - City Streets 47.35 MSA - 10.91 Other - 36.44 - Private Roads 8.e (This could grow by another 8-10 miles at full development under current zoning standards) Private Roads Background Oc.:asionally there has been discussion of the City taking over various private roads, however except for certain circumstances su-h as "through roads" (i.e. Countryside (when completed) or Dickey Lake Drive) this has not been done. Public street plowing and maintenance is the one service all residents receive direct and demonstrable benefit from their taxes on a regular basis - not only from transportation movement and safety but also from the aesthetic appearances of the neighborhood. The City has, in recent years, been upgrading the standards by which private roads are developed together with having some control over activities on these roads. It is anticipated :hat as persons from higher serviced, more urbanized communities (and even areas in Orono) hove into the rural areas, there will be an increased demand for service in exchange for their "high taxes". While the overall Orono taxes would increase, it is probably a considerable cost savings to these residents to have the City do this. (For privacy purposes same may continue to desire the private road at the additional cost.)