07-11-2001 Council Agenda - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

JUL -06 -2001 10:41 NRC 612 595 983? P.02/03 $ORl k*W * *T .As$OCIATI O CONSULTANTS* lNC 5775 Wayzata Boulevard, Suite 565, St. Louis Park, MN 55416 Telephone: 952.595.9636 Facsimile: 952.596.9837 planners @nacplanning.com MEMORANDUM TO: Little Canada Mayor and City Council FROM: Stephen Grittman DATE: July 6, 2001 RE: Little Canada - Public Maintenance of Private Streets FILE NO: 758.19 - 01.01 We have briefly inventoried other communities' experience with private streets and requests to have them returned to the public for maintenance. The experience has been varied, in terms of the numbor of privato shoot projootc, tho number of requests to turn them public, and the Cities' responses. As a general comment, most Cities have had limited requests to tum private streets over to public maintenance. There have been a few that we found where several requests have resulted in the development of a process for responding to these requests. Eagan and Shoreview are communities which fall into this category. Of the other cities inventoried, all tend to discourage these requests. Eagan's response is typical: Despite many requests, Eagan will only consider taking over public maintenance where there is an imminent public safety concem. City staff has considered whether to propose a charge in such cases, but this has not become policy. Shoreview has developed a policy for addressing these requests. We hope to be able to obtain a copy of this policy prior to the Council's meeting on July 11. It is our understanding that the City considers these requests only where all general zoning and construction standards are met. Otherwise, public safety can also be used as a rationale. In summary, while many communities have had these types of requests (to greater or lesser degrees), the overwhelming response is that they are commonly rejected. In situations where the private road condition creates a concern for public safety, and the City has no other enforcement option (such as a PUD agreement), the cities may consider Page 42