10-11-2010 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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• MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, October 11, 2010 7:00 o'clock p.m. (11. CRYSTAL BAYROAD CUL-DE-SAC PETITION, Continued) Kellogg stated the construction costs are going to be the minor portion of the total costs as compared to the land acquisition costs. White stated there are some property owners in this area who claim they have dock rights on Crystal Bay and would also want some input into this if the road is closed. White commented he is not sure whether they have those docks rights but their deeds are ambiguous. On the other end of Crystal Bay Road is the City of Minnetonka Beach and emergency service vehicles sometimes need to go through there. White stated the City will have to see if they will even be allowed to do this and that it does not make sense from a public safety standpoint and a cost standpoint to close one end of the road. White questioned what the residents would be willing to spend on this. White stated one option could be speed bumps. Gabriel Jabbour, Orono, commented the City Council is currently being attacked by people who feel the City is wasting money. The residents are asking the City to do something that should never be considered based on the costs and that the City has a file a foot high on projects that should be done. Jabbour commented the residents are not recognizing the impact on their safety if one end of the road is closed and that it would also make it impossible for cars to turn around. Jabbour stated the City will need to talk to the Mound Fire Department, the Long Lake Fire Department, and the Orono Police Department. • Jabbour stated the most important issue regarding this petition relates to planning and zoning and that he would ask the City Council to divert from that zoning. The City's current code states that two or more homes must be served with a city standard street plus a 75 -foot cul -de -sac, which is in conflict with another part of the code that requires three or more homes to be constructed on a cul -de -sac. Jabbour stated the problem is that no one ever considered the zoning code before making this request. Jabbour questioned whether the City will be able to grant a variance. Jabbour commented that the residents deserve to know what they are going to get up front and that it could become a public safety issue if emergency vehicles are not able to access Minnetonka Beach at times when County Road 15 is congested. Jabbour asked how the City Attorney feels about constructing a cul -de -sac on a substandard road and closing one end and whether a variance would be necessary. Poehler indicated a variance would be necessary but that she is not able to state what the hardship would be at this time. John Hofer, 3339 Crystal Bay Road, commented that former mayor Gabriel Jabbour brings up some good points. The City of Orono has a number of roads that do not currently have a 75 -foot cul -de -sac, such as Baldur Park Road, Birch Lane, Pheasant Road, Mapleridge Lane, and West Lafayette Road. In Minnetonka Beach, they have Brooks Lane and Arcola Lane. Long Lake has Apple Glen Road. In that situation they constructed a turnaround area, which is another option here. Ann O'Reilly, 3349 Crystal Bay Road, stated the number one job of the City Council is to look out for the public safety and welfare of the residents. The residents are passionate about this and have put a • considerable amount of time into researching this. The residents held a neighborhood meeting and discussed a number of options. Eighty percent or more of the residents on the street are in favor of this petition. O'Reilly noted the three properties whose driveways access Crystal Bay Road were not included on the petition since the petition requires that the properties have a Crystal Bay Road address. Page 15 of 20