12-14-2015 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, December 14, 2015 6:30 o'clock p.m. 13. #15-3774 MICHAEL STEADMAN OBIO IRWIN ACOBS,1700 SHORELINE DRIVE — PRELIMINARY PLAT APPROVAL — RESOLUTION NO. 6569 (continued) Gaffron stated he has had a number of conversations with Mr. Beam regarding the level of completing or addressing every item in the letter and determining which items are critical to have completed prior to preliminary plat approval and which ones should be addressed prior to final plat approval. A number of the comments relate to the Watershed District. Gaf&on stated he does have every expectation that everything on that list will be addressed prior to final plat approval. Dayton stated .Point 1.1 says that a bluff analysis should be submitted to confirm bluff areas on the plans. Dayton stated he would further point out that the main point that the developer brought to the table, probably at the first meeting, was when an engineered diagram was brought forward of what the proposed construction route will look like, which really focused on the bluffs. Dayton stated he specifically recalls the Council talking about that and how the bluffs were too steep to form a construction route down through the bluffs. Dayton stated the bluffs have been an issue right from the beginning. Dayton stated the neighborhood paid $2,000 for an engineering study to be done but that it unfortunately was delivered by a person who was rather monotone and was only given five minutes to deliver a 10 - point report. Dayton stated the one point that should have been focused on was why an alternative construction route is a plausible concept. Dayton stated in his opinion the alternative construction route has not been given enough time for study or discussion. Dayton stated in his view the residents tried to do something that should have been considered by the City Council and it has not been given due consideration. Dayton indicated he did speak with one of the Council Members recently and that Council Member did indicate that they put a lot of thought into the alternative road and had met with Mr. Gaffron and reviewed it. Dayton stated he does appreciate that, but that in public format and public sessions it does not feel like it has been given due process. Dayton stated he is presuming this will be approved tonight, but that he is hoping the City Council will go through the process to determine whether the alternative road is viable. Dayton stated he is not opposed to the development, and that at some point over the course of this, the neighborhood suggested bringing the heavy construction equipment through Heritage Lane in stages. All the residents are asking for is a more safe passage by having the developer essentially pay for an alteration to a more permanent pass that exists between the bluffs and down the valley into the construction area. Dayton stated he wants to make sure that has been heard and that it is on public record tonight. Dayton indicated he has also talked to another developer in Orono with quite a bit of experience. Dayton stated he understands a bond for road surface damage to Heritage Lane has to be submitted and that the damages are typically not mediated right away and assumes that the asphalt surfaces will be torn up with all the heavy equipment. Dayton stated it likely will take three to five years to complete the project. Dayton asked if it will be at the end of the three to five year period that repair of the asphalt road will be completed. Dayton further asked what happens in the meantime as the road is torn up and whether the developer is required to lay down Class 5 gravel as a replacement surface. Dayton stated street cleaning would not do a whole lot of good if they are sweeping up a Class 5 roadway. Page 28 of 44