1-31-2006 Special meeting regarding NWQ

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Approved have private roads and if this is the practice for most town home communities, then the argument that a buyer would be going down the road to different development is null. Baker stated that with the setbacks, that snowplowing is an issue, but snow storage is a bigger issue. He added that if the streets were public then there would be a bigger set back, fewer curb cuts and more area to stack snow. Schiferl inquired if there might be a compromise of the Developer or home owner association purchasing smaller plows for the city, which would then allow the city to plow those roads. Greenfield reported that the public ring roads are thirty-two feet wide and the residential streets are thirty feet wide with parking limited to one side. They would not ask the community to help maintain the private roads that are in between buildings, which are twenty feet wide and the site was specifically designed to help eliminate driveways. A majority of the driveways have been designed to be internal, requiring few curb cuts. The exception would be the outer ring of town homes that have drive ways directly onto the road, with roughly forty curb cuts. Zisla asked for a clarification regarding which streets would be public and private. Greenfield replied that the southern entrance, the northern entrance, the boulevard, and the urban avenue would all be public, and the residential streets would be private. She stated that if the City would agree to maintain the trails and green area, then they would be willing to take the responsibility for the residential streets. They are looking for a compromise, so that the home owners association won’t be responsible for the whole west side. Fernelius agreed that those are the roads the City would like to see as private through an easement. Zisla inquired if the reason the City would like them private is because they are two feet smaller and there are snow plowing issues. Fernelius replied that snow plowing is just one issue, maintenance is also an issue. Zisla asked why these streets should be private when other streets are public in the City. He also wondered if someone drafted a CIC document if they could close the streets to the public, because they have been regulated as private. He also asked the Developers what the cost for street maintenance would be per unit. Greenfield replied that they have not prepared a budget for street maintenance. Zisla asked staff if they could name any of the other town home communities in the city have private streets. Fernelius named a few developments. Zisla replied that those communities are fairly isolated and do not take into account that the City wants to encourage citizens to walk through theses areas. Fernelius replied that the Commission can direct staff to go back and work on this particular issue, but he can not commit that the stance from the Engineering Department will change. Baker stated that if the streets are to be public, then they should be built to city design standard, which would reduce the amount of density considerably. Fernelius stated that is the primary rational behind making the streets a private responsibility. Baker stated that he did agree with the Developer that if the green area is going to be an extension of the regional park, then the City should share some of the responsibility of its maintenance, but this commission does not govern that area. Zisla inquired how the Developer feels about the ownership, use and maintenance of the trails. Greenfield replied the discussions have been that the public can use these trails, however there has not been any discussion regarding a public easement, but these is one of the items that they meet with the City about. Zisla stated since these are public trails that lead to private streets, there would be a need of an easement. Greenfield replied that she agreed. Greenfield reported that they will be revising the site plan to accommodate more parking at I:\COMMISSIONS\PLANNING\Minutes\2006\1-31-2006 Special meeting regarding NWQ.doc