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Councilmember Elvig noted that on the concept plan the cottage area had a very beautiful layout, <br />but as it is presented .on the plat, it is not as appealing. <br /> <br />Principal Planner Tmdgeon explained that the City 'has a new ordinance that requires a'Public <br />street through all townhome developments. Because of that requirement, the design Was' changed <br />to accommodate a public through street..Mr. Trudgeon .reviewed the proposed..trail alignments <br />within the development. <br /> <br />Parks/Utilities Supervisor Boos stated that the Park Commission did review the plan discussing <br />many issues including tree conservation and trail, alignment. At the time of .the meeting, it was <br />noted that the plan was being changed based on recommendations of the Planning Commission <br />so the Park Commission indicated that they would like to seethe plan again ·once it was revised: <br />The one strong consensus the Park Commission had was that trails are an .important aspect <br />providing a continuous loop around the neighborhood.. The developer is ·willing .to provide a <br />public easement on the private trails so that theY could be used by everyone.' The developer <br />proposed the trails and the City should be careful of taking less than what the developer is <br />offering. <br /> <br />Councilmember Strommen stated that there isa sidewalk on Potassium Street that Would proVide <br />a continuous circle. She could not require people to have a sidewalk in. their fi'ont Yard and a trail <br />in their back yard. <br /> <br />Councilmember Elvig inquired as to who would pay for the maintenance of the trail. <br /> <br />Parks/Utilities Supervisor Boos replied that it was his understanding that the maintenance Would <br />be paid for by the homeowners association. <br /> <br />Councilmember Elvig stated that he lives in the FOx Ridge neighborhood and agrees that having <br />a continuous walking loop is a very important thing, but he does not see a problem with Walking · <br />on the street. <br /> <br />C0uncilmember Cook stated that a walk/ng trail provides a different recreation than a sideWalk, <br />but he does see a problem with the trail on the north east side of the development because' it will' <br />be so close to the units: His recommendation was that they provide for larger backyards on those <br />lots by possibly eliminating one of the lots. He stated that when the developer was asked to take <br />the trail out of the back yard, they did it in an area wherethey had a 25 foot buffer on the lots,' <br />but where people were complaining about the lots being too. narrow, they did not do anything. <br />He had no problem wi.th using the sidewalk in that. situation. <br /> <br />Principal planner Trudgeon presented a survey from residents regarding the trail, which was <br />overwhelmingly opposing the backyard.trail. <br /> <br />Mayor Gamec stated that he did not understand why theY would need the:trails .When there Was <br />already going to be sidewalks witkin the development. <br /> <br />City Council/January 21, 2003 <br /> <br />Page 4 of 9 <br /> <br />-165- <br /> <br /> <br />