Minutes - Council - 01/23/2001 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mayor Gamec inquired if it is necessary for the trees to be removed. City Engineer Jankowski reviewed the easement area which indicated that some of the trees will be impacted by the project. Mayor Gamec inquired if there was any way of moving the project farther north to save the trees. City Engineer Jankowski replied that if the project were moved farther north they would be into the railroad property. He stated that it could be possible to narrow the size of the easement in order to save some of the trees, but he would have to talk to the contractors to determine what the additional cost would be. Consensus of the Council was to direct staff to work with residents to determine if there was an option that would save the trees. Ms. Dillon presented pictures of the property on the north side of the railroad tracks which showed that there are no trees that would be impacted and noted that there is already an easement on the north side of the tracks. Councilmember Zimmerman replied that the Northwestern Bell line is on the north side of the tracks. City Engineer Jankowski reviewed the north side of the tracks and pointed out that in order for the pipe to be constructed on that side of the tracks the City would have to go under pavement, curb and gutter which would be very expensive. Winslow Holasek, 1159 Andover Boulevard, Andover, inquired as to what the distance was from the raih'oad tracks to the power lines. City Engineer Jankowski replied approximately 40 feet. Mr. Holasek replied that the reason they have the petition is that the project is going to destroy future development of their property. The reason Zitlow's building was moved back 20 feet was because the City has planned on the frontage road being in front of the properties so now there will be an easement in the front and the back of the properties which will make their properties difficult to develop. If the project was constructed on the north side of the railroad tracks, the City would not have to obtain easements and they would not have to remove 100 trees. If the trees are removed as part of the project, the City will be responsible for paying the property owners for those trees, in addition to the easements. The trees are not only wind breaks, but provide protection from the railroad tracks and the commercial businesses. Mr. Holasek stated that five alternatives were presented to the Council and requested that the Council review those options again and that a feasibility study be completed to compare the costs of constructing the project on the north side of the railroad tracks. City Council/January 23, 2001 Page 26 of 34