10-25-2015 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, October 12, 2015 7:00 o’clock p.m. _____________________________________________________________________________________ Page 17 of 37 9. #15-3774 MICHAEL STEADMAN ON BEHALF OF IRWIN JACOBS, 1700 SHORELINE DRIVE, PRELIMINARY PLAT (continued) Libby stated that will not a practical maneuver for a school bus and that they have to back into his driveway in order to traverse and come back to go out to County Road 15. Libby stated in his view it is a very poor decision. Libby stated every time they look at the drawings of the development versus the already cultivated and engineered path that goes down behind the Jacobs’ property and into the land that is being developed, it does not provide a very good perspective of the area. Libby stated he also has some high definition photographic images that depict their neighborhood. Libby noted the video is now displaying a school bus at 3:00 in the afternoon, which does not have to deal with very heavy oncoming traffic in either direction, but that the bus driver has to wait due to persistent oncoming traffic. Libby stated the residents frequently have to wait a substantial amount of time just to get out onto County Road 15 and that it will be very difficult for very large and heavy construction vehicles to use that route. Libby stated the next picture depicts the city-owned access. Libby noted all of those trees will be completely clear cut and gone, which will change his view and his quiet enjoyment of the neighborhood. Libby indicated he had an arborist come in, and in his professional opinion the loss of mature tree cover is more dramatic and more impactful in the area of the cul-de-sac than it actually is through this route to bring the construction traffic in through the Jacobs’ property. Libby stated the next pictures depict the road that the current engineering team state cannot be modified and is not feasible into the development. Libby stated he has had another extremely credentialed engineer tell him that that is not true and that a 5-foot modification of this grade would accommodate the heavy equipment and haulers. Libby noted the alternative route would only disturb two individuals every time a construction vehicle goes by rather than 46 individuals that live in his neighborhood. Libby stated the next picture shows the bluff area that the developer and engineers continually refer to as a non-feasible access to the Jacobs’ property. Libby noted there is a 30-foot drop but that it is inconsequential since a straight over the bluff road is not necessary since there is already an engineered road that can be corrected and used. Libby stated the next picture is looking through the line of sight to several of the lots. The arborist has stipulated very specifically that there is very little loss to mature trees or Big Woods growth. Libby noted there has been talk about conservation and retaining tree growth. In the opinion of the professional arborist, this is the most shameful neglect of large standing mature wood trees that he has seen in the 35 years since he has been licensed. Libby stated the question of why now seems to be leaning towards the conservation card and that the thought of preserving trees over children and neighbors is beyond his comprehension. Libby noted he has included some copies of some historic documents, one of which is from a very interesting study found in a book written by Marie Andrews Commons. Included in the book is a hand drawn map by the author of the exact same estate. Libby stated it is interesting to see how this property looked at the time but that it presents a very different picture from what exists today. Libby noted the heavy woods are away from the residence and the cul-de-sac.