10-26-2015 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL. MEETING Monday, October 26, 2015 7:00 o'clock p.m. 10. #15-3774 MICHAEL STEADMAN ON BEHALF OF IRWIN JACOBS,1700 SHORELINE DRIVE, PRELIMINARY PLAT — REVIEW CUL-DE-SAC ALTERNATIVES (continued) 4. Without a cul-de-sac that meets current City standards, emergency and maintenance vehicles may have difficulty accessing the new development and turning around. The proposed layouts should be reviewed by the Fire Department. 5. The "no new cul-de-sac" alternative would not result in any significant change to traffic patterns or views. However, not adding the new cul-de-sac could easily result in sightseers continuing past the existing cul-de-sac and then having to maneuver to exist the site. 6. City maintenance of the public road will be less efficient if the new cul-de-sac is not built. Or, will the City simply not plow past the existing cul-de-sac and expect the three new homeowners to plow not only their own driveways but the added 300 feet to get to the existing cul-de-sac? 7. The alternate plan would result in only 6 —10 less significant trees requiring removal when comparing the two plans side-by-side. The minimal tree savings does not justify the creation of another substandard road, a public one at that, in the City. The amount of hardcover needed to be added is roughly equal in each plan. A full new cul-de-sac coupled with removal of portions of the existing cul-de-sac, is roughly the equivalent in hardcover of simply adding driveways and expanding the existing cul-de-sac to meet code. 9. If no new cul-de-sac is provided, construction traffic during home construction is more likely to spill out onto the existing Heritage Lane cul-de-sac despite the efforts to avoid such activity. The applicant has proposed onsite parking for the construction traffic, which will help keep traffic off of Heritage Lane. 10. City Engineer Edwards recommends that whether a new cul-de-sac is built or the existing one expanded, surmountable concrete curbing should be used rather than asphalt curbing. A suitable transition from existing asphalt curbing to concrete curbing is easily accomplished and asphalt curbing is a maintenance issue. Staff recommends that the original plan to create a new cul-de-sac be approved, accompanied by removal of the excess portions of the existing cul-de-sac. Staff would oppose the alternate plan. If the Council determines that the alternate pian should be followed, Staff recommends that the existing cul-de-sac be brought up to City standard as part of the development improvements and a determination made as to future maintenance of the extended road. Levang asked where the bus would turn around if existing portions of the cul-de-sac are removed. Gaffron indicated it would turn around on the new road that would have the new cul-de-sac. Levang asked if he is suggesting the new cul-de-sac be further in. Gaffron stated Staff is recommending creating a straight stretch of road with the cul-de-sac at the end. Page 7 of 23