01-27-2014 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, January 27, 2014 7:00 o’clock p.m. _____________________________________________________________________________________ Page 12 of 32 (5. #13-3637 WILLI ABBOTT ON BEHALF OF THE BROADWAY GROUP, LLC – 2350 WATERTOWN ROAD AND XXX WILLOW DRIVE NORTH – PRELIMINARY PLAT AND RPUD REZONING, Continued) McMillan asked whether the wetland in Glendale Cove is platted as an outlot. Gaffron indicated it is privately owned by an association. McMillan asked if it is contiguous to this other wetland. Gaffron indicated it likely is but that there might be some higher ground separating the two due to some trees in the area. McMillan asked why the City would not want this wetland to be part of an outlot. Gaffron stated Staff from the beginning has favored creation of an outlot for the wetland, which would potentially include the proposed tree preservation area. Gaffron indicated this would be similar to the development scheme of Glendale Cove to the immediate north. This would require establishment of a homeowners association to own and manage those areas, which the developer does not favor. Gaffron stated looking back at the minutes from December of 2005 and January of 2006, the discussion focused on the density and the fact that there will be city utilities in the right-of-way. The City Council had a consensus at that time that the road be a public road. The City’s Comprehensive Plan also contains a statement which reads as follows: Under urban transportation policies, No. 1, local streets in the urban area will be owned and maintained by the City. Because the land use and street use density for the urban neighborhoods is relatively high, the City will provide public street access to all urban properties. The City’s responsibility for proper maintenance levels will ensure passable all-weather streets available at all times for emergency vehicles and for general public ingress and egress. Gaffron noted they are basically following what the Comprehensive Plan says about urban development. Levang stated she has a problem with that since the City would be responsible for all the maintenance and upkeep in the future. Levang stated when the City is taking over another road, that means the City is taking on all the responsibility for the maintenance and upkeep over time, and when they are talking about serving seven homes and making that a public road, she has problem with that when so many of the surrounding neighborhoods are all private. Gaffron noted those are all two acre lots. McMillan commented it is more expensive for the homeowners on the two-acre lots given the longer driveways and road as well as fewer homes. Gaffron stated the second suggestion from Mr. Kelley is to move the access road 15 feet north. The proposed cul-de-sac abuts the northwest corner of Kelley’s property and includes a corridor segment that would allow for potential future road connection to the Kelley property.