1994-01-25 - Laserfiche WebLink

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4 --- New Brighton Mayor and City Council Members ~~ Daniel R. Johnson 2851 12th Street NW \i\ January 25, 1994 ~t1+1."# n--- Park Development Plans Within Innsbruck 2nd and 5th Additions To: From: Date: Subiect : I would like to present my two concerns regarding the subject park plans. 1) Concerning the Black Oak access path and its width: I have read the Park Board's recommendation to the Council and the subsequent recommendation by Matt Fulton, New Brighton City Manager. I understand that the Park Board has recommended a 6 foot wide asphalt pathway to be constructed on the 10 foot strip of park property. This 10 foot strip adjoins my property. I also understand that the City Manager has subsequently recommended that the pathway be 8 foot wide to conform to acceptable standards and therefore reduce the City's liability exposure. As a property owner I also have liability concerns. An 8 foot path will bring bicycle, skateboard and other traffic as close as 12 inches to my property. A mishap on the path could easily spill onto my property exposing me to liability. Adding to this concern is the fact that this traffic must negotiate the hill/berm adjacent to my property. In my opinion, a 12 inch buffer between the path and my property is not adequate to protect me from liability. Twelve inches does not allow for any plantings. I understand and agree with the City's concern regarding liability and ask that similar consideration be given my personal liability concerns. Also, I am not familiar with minimum setback standards (if any) for pathways but question if 12 inches meet such standards. At our meeting on January 24th, Matt Fulton indicated that the City is willing to provide me written liability relief to alleviate my concerns. This resolution would be satisfactory but I believe a better solution exists. I respectfully request that a motion be made to modify the proposed park plan to specify an unpaved pathway access from Black Oak Drive. This would eliminate both the City's and my own personal liability concerns. Landscaping could clearly mark the entrance and pathway. The paved pathway is being shoehorned into an inappropriate place. I believe an unpaved 'nature trail' is appropriate here. 2) Concerning the Bent Tree Hills Drive EastwWest access: In his January 20th letter to the Mayor and Council, Matt Fulton has suggested that it might be appropriate for the Council to consider delaying construction of the proposed eastwwest asphalt pathway from Bent Tree Hills Drive. Up until now I have refrained from commenting on this because I do not want to create any friction with my neighbors. Since this has been suggested to the Council I would like to add my comments. A delay in the construction of this access point would have the effect of designating the undersized Black Oak Drive access point as the primary entrance for residents of Bent Tree Hills Drive. It would certainly increase the traffic on the Black Oak pathway. In our meeting with Matt and Maurie on the 24th} Betty Johnson, Tom Stuart, Curt Dokter and myself expressed the desire that the construction of the Bent Tree Hills east-west access path NOT be delayed (Matt please correct me if you perceived the residents comments differently). Thank you for your consideration.