06-14-2010 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL Monday, May 24, 2010 7:00 o’clock p.m. _____________________________________________________________________________________ Page 6 of 11 (13. REVIEW PRELIMINARY DAKOTA TRAIL PARKING OPTIONS, Continued) with the County, have imposed a burden since 1965 of 178 recreational parking spots on the City. The Cities of Minnetonka Beach, Corcoran, and Greenfield have provided zero recreational parking spots. LeQuay indicated the traffic from these recreational parking spots is also an issue in this area. There is a higher incidence of drunk driving due to the drinking on the lake and the wedding parties at Noerenberg. In addition, there is the runoff that is caused by the impermeable surfaces and the extra police and infrastructure that the city has to support due to the recreational parking. LeQuay stated another issue relates to the right-of-way, which is not 40 feet. The right-of-way actually turns out to be 38 feet regardless of what the original plat says. LeQuay requested the City provide him with documentation for how the 40 feet is arrived at. LeQuay stated he also feels that some of the comments from the County are disingenuous because they have to obtain the footage in the middle from the Hennepin County Railroad Authority. The area in the middle was specifically left out due to a couple of issues. The original plat shows 507 feet and their number is 400 feet. LeQuay commented there is not parking available on both sides of Railroad Avenue. LeQuay pointed out on the overhead where the railroad station was located. If the parking is located in that area, there will not be a historic reconstruction of the Crystal Bay railroad station. It will also have a high environmental impact due to the drainage. There has been no soil analysis and no NPED analysis completed. In addition, Three Rivers’ recreational maps would show parking in this location, which would attract people to that area and it would create an even more dangerous situation given the number of people that utilize the trail. The speed limit on North Shore Drive from the lake up to the first 40 mile speed limit sign is 50 miles an hour. The bicyclists do not stop. In the morning there are cars doing slides turning into Railroad Avenue to bypass the cars waiting to turn left at Shoreline Drive. This area is extremely dangerous and the trail creates a huge parking and traffic problem. Gaffron recommended that Boe Carlson and Alex Meyer attend the next forum to make a presentation of their study. Staff would like to know whether the City Council would like to have the public hearing at the Planning or City Council level. Council needs to define a process for how this matter should be reviewed since it is not a normal zoning application. Gaffron suggested the Three Rivers representatives be informed that until that process is completed, they should not go to the Three Rivers Board seeking authority to proceed further with the Orono sites. Murphy suggested there be a public hearing as long as the Three District representatives are in attendance and hear the issues from the residents. White recommended the public hearing be done at the Planning Commission. McMillan stated she would like to take a look at the parking for the entire trail. Since the Dakota Trail is fairly new and very popular, the City should take a step back and talk about overall parking for the entire trail and what the goals are. Bremer commented the City Council can only control what happens in their city. Bremer expressed a concern that the same things will be discussed as last time. Item #02 - CC Agenda - 06/14/2010 Approval of Council Minutes 05/24/2010 [Page 6 of 11]