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 18 of 37 9. #15-3774 MICHAEL STEADMAN ON BEHALF OF IRWIN JACOBS, 1700 SHORELINE DRIVE, PRELIMINARY PLAT (continued) Mayor McMillan closed the public comment portion of the hearing at 9:47 p.m. (Recess taken from 9:47 p.m. to 9:54 p.m.) Gronberg stated to get down to the cul-de-sac, they would have to go through a 12 percent slope. Gronberg stated the pictures do not show how steep it is for construction traffic. McMillan asked how much subbase would be required. Gronberg stated they are looking at six to ten feet of fill with a width of eight to ten feet at a 3:1 slope. Gronberg indicated he spoke with Steve Groan at Hennepin County who is in charge of issuing permits, and he said they would never approve a private driveway construction access if there is a public roadway nearby. Gronberg stated one of the main problems is that driveways are narrow, and with truck traffic coming out and another vehicle waiting on County Road 15 attempting to get in, that would back up traffic. Gronberg stated Hennepin County would not be in favor of it at all. Gronberg stated they also show that 127 trees would need to be removed for the temporary access, over a half acre of land disturbance and 1,350 cubic yards of fill being brought in and then taken out afterwards. Gronberg stated he has seen the letter from the excavator stating that it will not be a very safe condition for the truckers and that in his view, with the onsite parking and restrictions on the hours, access onto Heritage Lane is a better situation. Gronberg noted there is also a turn lane on County Road 15, which would not be available with the temporary road access. McMillan stated she did read all the information and that in her view the applicant and his representatives have done a good job trying to present some options. McMillan noted she lives on a public road that is 18 feet wide and that the school bus does not even go down her road since there is no cul-de-sac or turnaround. McMillan stated her neighborhood also experienced some development over the years and that she understands it can be a hassle. McMillan stated given everything she has read, the applicants have heard the neighbors’ concerns and have attempted to do the best they can to mitigate their concerns. McMillan noted the developer has a legal right to use Heritage Lane, and that in the 23 years she has been in Orono, she has witnessed how the City tries to balance personal property rights with the rights of the developer. McMillan stated in her view the City has done a good job with that. McMillan stated there is not a perfect solution to this, but that in her view the applicants have done a good job at mitigating the concerns by proposing restrictions on the construction hours and the onsite parking. McMillan stated the developer is putting a good foot forward and that she does not see the sense of putting in a temporary road that would further damage the environment. McMillan stated she is in favor of using what the developer has proposed and allowing access on Heritage Lane. Gronberg stated to construct the temporary road, they would also have to fill in some steep slopes next to the bluff, which is prohibited by City Code.