02-22-1999 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES FOR FEBRUARY 22,1999 • ( #14) Saga Hill Access, Continued Fairview Covenant Church regarding access. The City also has the option of allowing the land to go back to the County for development by the private sector if some agreement is not reached concerning access. a Flint stated the City is trying to protect this unique piece of land by designating it as a passive park and that the whole community should have the opportunity to utilize this area. Flint indicated he is in favor of acquiring the additional property as well as pursuing access to the area. Sansevere indicated in his view the City needs to have a long -term vision concerning this piece of property, and inquired whether this property would be utilized for ballfields. Sansevere extended his gratitude to Mr. Palmer for his cooperation in this project. Peterson indicated in her view this area would only be utilized for a neighborhood ballfield and not as a formal recreational field. Flint stated his understanding was that the ballfield located on the church property would be utilized and ballfields would not be developed in this park. • Sansevere indicated he was not in favor of organized ballfields in this area and that the area should be left in its natural state for the most part. i Dwight Affeldt, Tonkaview Lane, inquired whether the access road would be paved or gravel and where parking would be situated. Mayor Jabbour stated this issue still needs to be addressed further, but in his view the access should be handicap accessible with parking located to the rear of the access. Kelley commented his vision of this area is similar to that of French Creek Preserve and that the City should attempt to preserve the natural habitat of the area. Larry Brown, Tonkaview Lane, expressed concerns about the impact the access road would have on the neighboring residential area and the lack of a long -term vision for this property. Mayor Jabbour stated it is this City Council's intent to keep the land passive, and if the land is converted to a residential development, this would have a much greater impact on the surrounding properties than the proposed park. Brown expressed concerns that the City does not know how much traffic will be utilizing this access road. 11