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MINUTES OF THE <br /> ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING <br /> Monday,Apri124,2017 <br /> 7:00 o'clock p.m. <br /> PUBLIC COMMENTS-Continued <br /> Rosha stated the position of the Erickson's is that what they have now works very well,and if the <br /> entrance is narrowed down,ingress and egress will become problematic. The Erickson's position is what <br /> is there should remain there. Rosha stated the Erickson's have done a great job improving the property <br /> and that egress/ingress is important and helps dictates the success or failure of a business. There is also a <br /> safety concem with the narrower driveway. <br /> Rosha stated there is some dialogue taking place between Erickson's and Hennepin County,and that he <br /> would request the City take a formal stance that the driveway be permitted to remain as wide as it <br /> currently is. <br /> Walsh commented it is a unique property since there is a gas station,a retail mall,and some professional <br /> service offices located there. Walsh stated from a philosophical standpoint,he would say they should be <br /> able to keep what they have since it is no fault of their own that this road project is happening. Walsh <br /> stated he would be supportive from a grandfathering standpoint that they should be able to keep what they <br /> have unless there is some overriding safety issue that needs to be addressed. <br /> Printup stated from a policy standpoint,he would be okay with leaving the driveway at its present width <br /> since the City routinely allows people to replace homes with like,kind and quality. Printup stated he <br /> would want to make sure the City does not have any liability or be used as a negotiating tool with the <br /> County. <br /> Rosha noted there are condemnation proceedings with a couple of property owners, including Orono <br /> West,which is related to the issue of the taking component during the pendency of the construction. The <br /> condemnation action was withdrawn and it comes down to the question of valuation. Rosha stated in his <br /> view it is highly unlikely there will be any impact on that pending litigation by the City Council <br /> expressing its position on the width of the driveway remaining as is. <br /> Seals stated there is value to the wider driveway for safety reasons and that she does not see any reason <br /> why the City would not support that. <br /> Walsh asked whether Mr.Rosha is interested in something more than a general consensus of the City <br /> Council. <br /> Rosha stated from a procedural postural standpoint,the City Council can go and articulate a consensus <br /> but that it would not be nearly as effective as being able to present something in writing. Rosha stated the <br /> document could contain language that there is no evidence at this time that the wide driveway has created <br /> a safety hazard. <br /> Walsh suggested he communicate with the City Attorney on a memorandum of understanding. <br /> Edwards stated from an engineering perspective,the project is at the end of a three-year design process, <br /> which the City was a part of. The City had indicated they are not interested in the County holding to the <br /> City's 32-foot width but rather would like them to apply best engineering principles to make the driveway <br /> as wide as practical given the new configuration of the road. In its current plan,Hennepin County has a <br /> 36-foot wide access through the trail section out to a 45-foot wide access at the new curb. <br /> Page 3 of 12 <br />