03-17-2014 Planning Commission Packet

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING Tuesday, February 18, 2014 6:30 o’clock p.m. _____________________________________________________________________________________ Page 8 of 11 5. #14-3652 ROGER AND NAN HAWKINSON, 570 ORONO ORCHARD ROAD SOUTH, VACATION OF UTILITY EASEMENT, 7:07 P.M. – 7: 15 P.M. Roger and Nan Hawkinson, Applicants, were present. Curtis stated in 2006, the City approved the vacation of the 12-foot wide alley which extended south from Dickenson Street to Fox Street. At the time of the vacation, the City retained utility easements over the alley. The applicant now wishes to combine the three parcels with the vacated alley into one buildable property. In order to create a larger, more central building location, the utility easements must be vacated. The City sewer lines run in Orono Orchard Road, Dickenson Street, and Barrett Avenue. There is an existing sewer easement running east to west on the south side of the applicants’ property from Barrett Avenue which contains the sewer line serving their property. This existing easement is on the adjacent property and is not proposed to be vacated. The public utilities serving this area have been contacted regarding their use of the easement area. With the exception of Mediacom, each of the utilities have responded. The only utility noting they have facilities within the vacated alley/easement area was Xcel Energy. The others have noted they have no objections to its vacation. Xcel indicates that there is an existing power pole on the northern part of the vacated alley on the applicants’ property for which an easement is needed. The applicants’ survey does not identify this power pole and Xcel has indicated they may need to conduct a survey to define the area. Retention of a small easement in this area will not affect the intended building site. Planning Staff recommends approval of the easement vacation with the provision that a utility easement is retained in the location of the existing Xcel facilities. Hawkinson indicated he had nothing to add to Staff’s report. Chair Leskinen opened the public hearing at 7:09 p.m. There were no public comments regarding this application. Chair Leskinen closed the public hearing at 7:09 p.m. Schoenzeit asked what is being vacated if a portion of the utility easement is to remain and what its purpose is. Gaffron indicated the other utilities would include electric, cable, gas, and phone. Gaffron stated the City might someday provide water to the property but not in the foreseeable future. Schoenzeit asked if the easement would allow for underground and overhead. Gaffron indicated it is both. Schoenzeit asked what could not be done if the easement remained. Item #01 - PC Agenda - 03/17/2014 Approval of Planning Commission Minutes 02/18/2014 [Page 8 of 11]