Laserfiche WebLink
MINUTES OF THE <br />ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING <br />Monday, October 26, 2015 <br />7:00 o’clock p.m. <br />_____________________________________________________________________________________ <br /> <br />Page 9 of 23 <br /> <br />10. #15-3774 MICHAEL STEADMAN ON BEHALF OF IRWIN JACOBS, 1700 <br />SHORELINE DRIVE, PRELIMINARY PLAT – REVIEW CUL-DE-SAC ALTERNATIVES <br />(continued) <br />Walsh stated if the cul-de-sac is expanded, they would be destroying those yards and trees, which the <br />neighbors have some issue with. Walsh stated he does not see that as an option and that it is not a good <br />situation in general. <br /> <br />Steadman stated he is willing to work with the neighborhood on landscaping and mitigating any impacts <br />to their properties. <br /> <br />Walsh stated once a 6-foot diameter tree is removed, it is gone. Walsh noted Mr. Libby has had water <br />problems in the past and that he is not sure how the work will impact that. Walsh stated he does not want <br />to exacerbate the problem and that sometimes it is best to leave things as they are. <br /> <br />Council Member Cornick asked how the bus negotiates now. <br /> <br />Gaffron stated the bus comes up to the cul-de-sac, makes a half turn, backs up, and then goes back out. <br /> <br />Edwards stated in his view widening the existing cul-de-sac for a temporary period would not provide any <br />real value. It functions as it functions now and would not necessarily change during construction. <br />Edwards stated with the new cul-de-sac, the City has an opportunity to correct a deficiency on that road <br />for the whole neighborhood, which is to provide the ability for buses and service vehicles to make a full <br />turn without backing up. Edwards stated the trade-off will be that the property owners with the extension <br />will have more traffic but they will not hear the beeping associated with certain vehicles backing up. <br />Edwards noted the City has lots of dead-end streets without cul-de-sacs and they are an issue for <br />maintenance and emergency issues. <br /> <br />McMillan stated she sees a lot of trade-offs either way and that if the cul-de-sac to the right is not built, it <br />would be up to the homeowners association to plow to the end of the existing cul-de-sac since there is no <br />way the City would be able to plow that stretch and turn around easily. <br /> <br />Walsh stated that makes it even more complicated and could create a situation where no one can get out. <br />Walsh stated he is in favor of what Adam suggested since it seems the only way to really solve that long <br />term for everybody. <br /> <br />Levang noted each of the homeowners would have a circular drive and that a service vehicle could turn <br />around. <br /> <br />Walsh stated they could also install a gate. <br /> <br />McMillan stated a cul-de-sac usually is a place to turn around and that most people would not go down <br />someone’s driveway to turn around. McMillan stated the two cul-de-sacs might be confusing but it would <br />provide some extra parking, which could be determined later. <br /> <br />McMillan stated she appreciates the applicant exploring the alternatives. McMillan noted there will be <br />some tree loss but that the new cul-de-sac, from an engineering point of view, is very valued. McMillan <br />stated a cul-de-sac tends to be more of an urban design in a Big Woods area.