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CITY of ORONO
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9� HO4 2750 Kelley Parkway P.O. Box 66
Orono, MN 55356 Crystal Bay, MN 55323-0066
December 18, 1998
Steven Webster
500 Orono Orchard Road South
Wayzata, MN 55391
Re: Driveway Relocation Proposal
Dear Mr. Webster:
We are in receipt of your inquiry regarding the alley that bisects your property. This alley was
created as part of the plat of Minnetonka Bluffs in 1887, and all streets, avenues and alleys within
the plat were dedicated to the public use forever.
Your property and those to the south of you at 540 and 550 Orono Orchard Road include lots on both
sides of the alley, and in each case the separated lots have been legally combined across the alley.
This does not, however, change the 'public' status of the alley, and both those properties have
historically used the alley for access. The property at 550 Orono Orchard Road constructed a new
detached garage and driveway accessing Orono Orchard in 1989,but still has the right(and perhaps
the occasional need, given the steep slope of the driveway)to gain access via the alley.
The City has no intent to vacate the alley at this time. The City also has no intent to force the
relocation of the Larson's driveway. The relocation you suggested would result in a driveway slope
averaging slightly over 10%, would result in a right-angle turn where it connects to the existing
driveway,and would result in the need for either a 5'retaining wall either side of the new driveway,
or a sideslope cut of as much as 16' either side of the driveway to gain a 3:1 maintainable slope.
These are all negative impacts we would not force upon a property owner.
Your assessment of the lot line rearrangement process is correct. The Larson's would have to be a
willing participant in a lot line rearrangement between your property and theirs. They indicated to
us more than a year ago they have no interest in your proposal. Whether the Larson property is
owner occupied or being used as rental property has no bearing on this matter.
Telephone (612) 473-7357 • FAX 473-0510
Steven Webster
December 18, 1998
Page 2
Given the above,City staff will not support your proposal to relocate your neighbor's driveway,and
cannot accept an application for a lot line rearrangement unless the Larson's are a willing participant
and co-sign the application. The issue of City maintenance of the alley is a topic for the Public
Works Department to discuss with the Larson's, and perhaps for future City Council review as part
of a broader discussion regarding road maintenance throughout the City.
Sincerely,
Michael P. Gaffron
Senior Planning Coordinator
cc: Mayor Jabbour and Councilmembers
Sandra Smith, Planning Commission Chair
Ron Moorse, City Administrator
Greg Gappa, Public Services Director
November 26, 1998
CC: Mike Graffon Sr. Planning Director
City of Orono
2750 Kelley Pkwy
Orono, MN 55356
RE: Public alleyway dividing property located at 500 Orono Orchard Road
Dear Mayor Jabbour:
As a follow up to our recent conversation while at the Pharmacy at the Wayzata Medical
Building, per your suggestion, I am writing to you regarding the alleyway the divides my lot in
two.
The city maintains this alley which only serves one home. The home that the alleyway provides
access to is owned by Kent and Sandra Larson and is currently being used as a rental property.
I asked you how we could resolve the division of my lot and help the city save money. Your
idea of having the city stop maintaining this and similar alleys in Orono, and the relocation of the
lot lines, including moving the driveway to the southern boarder of my property, would resolve
the issue. To accomplish this the lot line of my property could be relocated twelve feet to the
north of the existing line, up to the existing alley drive. The twelve-foot width is the same width
of the current alley.
On November 23, 1998 I spoke with Liz at the City of Orono. She mentioned that to meet the
January meeting deadline, I need to apply to the City Planning Commission by December 16 for
a lot line realignment. At that time I would also need to provide a sketch of the lot line change to
the commission.
I am happy to do all of this if the decision is made by the city. If the Larsons are able to have
the deciding vote, then it's not worth the time and expense to go further. I suspect that the
Larsons will oppose the change because they currently profit from the City maintaining their
rental property's driveway.
Before I proceed, can you run this by Mike and whoever else may be appropriate, to see if this
proposal has a chance of passing?
If I could hear from you by December 10 I would have sufficient time to gather information and
prepare the necessary sketch to meet the December 16th deadline.
I look forward to working with you on this matter. Please feel free to contact me at home at 473-
1608 or on my Cel phone at 590-4252.
Sinc9rely,
Steven Webster
CC: Sandra Smith and Planning Commission Members
Mike Graffon Sr. Planning Director