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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, January 22, 2007 7:00 o’clock p.m. _____________________________________________________________________________________ (6. #07-3258 BRUCE PADDOCK, 1450-1500 BRACKETTS POINT ROAD, Continued) Gaffron stated Exhibit 3B(2) shows the easement and that to his knowledge the City does not maintain the easement past the northwest corner of 1450. Gaffron stated it should perhaps be platted as a public road rather than a private outlot. Gaffron inquired whether Stickney is considering the road all the way to the cul-de-sac as private or public. Stickney stated in his view the roadway is an enhancement but that he does not want to make the road 26 feet wide if that is what the City’s standards are for a public roadway. Gaffron stated the City would probably maintain the roadway if it is constructed to city standards but that he would need to speak with the public works department on what width would be necessary to enable them to maintain this roadway. Murphy stated in his opinion the public access stops at the northwest corner. Stickney stated he would prefer the roadway not be made public. White stated in his view the roadway is an enhancement and does allow people to get in and out. White stated he would like to see some type of trade-off if the public access is eliminated. Murphy stated in his view this road is a dead-end and does not lead to anything. Murphy stated it is doubtful there will ever be a public parking spot created in this area that would allow people to sit there and view the lake. McMillan stated the vacating of a public right-of-way deserves serious consideration and requires some justification. McMillan indicated she is only aware of one instance where the City has vacated a public right-of-way, and in that situation it was done for the public good. McMillan stated she sees some trade- off with the removal of the hardcover under the new proposal but that in her view the right-of-way should stay public. Bremer stated she is in agreement with Council Member McMillan and Mayor White but that the Council needs to be reasonable in its requirements and that she does not want to see a 22, 24 or 26 foot road in this area. Bremer stated she would like to hear from the Public Works Department prior to making a decision on the roadway. Bremer stated the removals in the 0-75 foot zone are fabulous and that she likes the relocation of the road, but if the public works department would like to see the roadway at 28 feet wide, she might change her mind about leaving the roadway public. Stickney stated if the right-of-way is widened to 30 feet, they should be able to get two cars to pass. McMillan inquired what the width of the roadway is currently. Stickney indicated the current roadway has been 20 feet for a number of years and has worked just fine. Murphy stated in his view the Council would be de facto in vacating this public road and that the only reason to travel down this road is to look into the bay. Murphy stated he is worried about winding up with a wide public road in this area that essentially no one from the public will utilize and a road that would be out of character with the area. Murphy expressed a concern that a public road in this area would create other issues for the residents in the neighborhood. ______________________________________________________________________________ PAGE 9 of 13 Item #02 - CC Agenda 02-12-07 [Page 9 of 13]