09-12-1988 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF REGULAR ORONO COUNCIL MEETING SEPTEMBER 12, 1988 • BOHN'S POINT FEASIBILITY STUDY CONTINUED and some of the residents measured to see what effect a 24' road would have on the area. It would require removal of some trees and would affect the roots of other trees. It would also bring the road within only a few feet of electric poles. Due to these problems and the fact that Bohn's Point Road has a unique characteristic, the residents prefer the road width to be 221. Mr. Winslow compared Bohn's Point with Woodhill and felt that there was a significant difference between the two roads. Woodhill was far less inhabited and had a lot of open, marshy areas. Bohn's Point had considerably more residences and trees. The residents are requesting freedom to redo the road and spend their money in a manner they feel would best suit their neighborhood. Councilmember Goetten asked if there was a concensus of the residents to do the road at 221. Mr. Winslow stated that .those residents who were asked, were emphatic about the road being 22', and would not even discuss the possiblity of the road being 24'. The residents felt that 24' would be too wide for a dead -end street and the penninsula characteristics. Mayor Grabek inquired of City Administrator Bernhardson as to what the 24' included. Bernhardson replied that the 24' width • would be from curb to curb and there would be an 8" berm curb beyond that. Councilmember Goetten stated that they had battled for months over the road width of Woodhill Avenue. There were trees that had to be removed. She explained to Mr. Winslow that the reason she would find it difficult to approve Bohn's Point at 22' was because 24' was now the standard width of roads in Orono. Mr. Winslow stated that there would be no point to doing the feasibility study at 24' because the residents on the Road would not pay for the study or the Road. There would be several mature Maple and Oak trees that would be lost. Councilmember Callahan advised Mr. Winslow that should the City Council decide to put in the Road at 241, it would be installed at 24' and the property owners would have to pay for it. Mr. Winslow stated that _ the residents would fight that decision in Court. Councilmember Goetten told Mr. Winslow that he and the residents had initiated this matter and brought it before the Council. Now that the Council was requesting the road be 24', he and the residents did not want to follow through. Mr. Winslow responded that the matter was brought on the premise that the road be 22'. Councilmember Goetten said" it was unfortunate that the road width standard was 241, but she would have to abide by that standard. Mr. Winslow asked how many times there had been a • request to vary from the standard and how long the 24' standard had been in existence. Mayor Grabek asked Mr. Winslow if the 2 feet would make that much difference? Mr. Winslow responded 17