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#16-3807 Orono Preserve April 7, 2016 Page 2 Trail Discussion On April 7 in a conversation with Bob Byers of Hennepin County, Byers reinforced the comments in their March 24 letter regarding the establishment of trails along Wayzata Boulevard. County Transportation Department staff are not in favor of any trails along the right- of-way of Wayzata Boulevard west of Old Crystal Bay Road. They would encourage the use of internal trails or sidewalks on both sides of the corridor. Specifically, they would expect that if/when the Dumas property develops, that development would extend the internal sidewalk system proposed in Orono Preserve. On the north side of Wayzata Boulevard, they would encourage the Orono Schools to establish a sidewalk along the west side of OCB Road from the signalized intersection to the parking lot, then if a pedestrian corridor is desired by the Schools to connect to their west entrance, to accomplish that internally rather than along Wayzata Boulevard. Applicant has submitted an aerial view depicting a 10’ trail easement inside the northerly boundary of the property (Exhibit D-1). In order to better visualize the impacts of such a trail easement staff has included perimeter buffer cross-section (Exhibit D-2) and an enlargement of the proposed grading plan for that area (Exhibit E). Establishment of a 10’ easement is fairly inconsequential, while actually developing a trail within the easement will have significant impacts on the current layout and buffer plan: - The location and topography of the road ditch within the right-of-way makes it very unlikely that a trail could be developed within the existing right-of-way, forcing it into the Preserve property. - Building a trail within a 10’ trail easement would conflict with the proposed berms and plantings in the northerly 25-30’ of Lots 1-2-3-4 and 7. It would require that 1) the berms and plantings would have to be moved further south, reducing the depth of the already minimal rear yards of those homes; or 2) the north side of the berms would have to be excavated and a retaining wall established, perhaps as high as 4 feet, in order to provide flat bench for the trail, jeopardizing the vegetative screening. - Moving the internal road even a short distance south would further restrict the minimal yards of lots to the south of that road, which are already squeezed between the road and the wetlands & stormwater ponding area. Based on the above, staff does not support the concept of a trail along the south side of Wayzata Boulevard. No trail or trail easement requirement has been added to the Preliminary Plat Resolution at this time. Staff Recommendation The attached resolution for Concept Plan and Preliminary Plat Approval (Exhibit A) has been revised per Council’s directions on March 28. Staff recommends adoption of the resolution. COUNCIL ACTION REQUESTED Consider a motion to adopt the attached resolution entitled A Resolution Approving the General Concept Plan and Granting Preliminary Plat Approval for Property Located at 425-595 Old Crystal Bay Road North - File #16-3807.