Minutes - 1992/07/27 - Laserfiche WebLink

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ounds View City Council ~egular Meeting Page Eight July 27, 1992 longer maintain the sidewalks (snow removal) the homeowner would have or pay the consequences. A 5' sidewalk is wide enough to shovel. Mr. McCarty also stated that he has concerns with removing some of the old trees that are 30 and 40 years old. Removing the old trees will remove much of the ambience of the boulevards on Long Lake Road. Mr. McCarty asked the Council to revisit the entire subject. Mayor Linke asked what the sidewalk width was on Long Lake Road in New Brighton. Minetor stated he thought it was either 5' or 6', but he wasn't certain. Richard Hedin, 8040 Long Lake Road, asked why the City had to put in a 7' sidewalk when they could widen the road and put in a bicycle lane and then add a standard sidewalk and there would not be as many trees lost. Mr. Hedin has planted approximately 50 on his own lot. Mr. Hedin stated that they add to the beauty of the neighborhood. Mayor Linke stated that by making the sidewalk 5' and not 7' it would not save that many more trees. Mr. Hedin stated that most kids will ride on the road, not on the sidewalk. The speed limit on that road is 30 miles per hour because of the kids that ride bikes on that road. There are a lot of children on Long Lake Road. At night, it sounds like a dragstrip. Mr. Hedin suggested to keep the speed limit at 30 and police it a little heavier on weekends and evenings to keep down the traffic. Mr. Hedin stated, in his opinion, a 7' sidewalk is stupid. Minetor stated the east side of the road cannot be reduced because of the pipeline. Minetor stated that he and the City Forester went out and looked at all the tree sites in question. Even if the sidewalk was reduced to 5', 2' wouldn't save trees. Minetor further stated that if a bike lane were put in, Long Lake Road would become no parking on the bike lane and the width would have to be increased by 4'. Many children do ride in the street, but in his opinion, he doesn't feel it's safe on a collector street. Minetor stated that he agreed with the residents. There are many nice trees along Long Lake Road. Minetor stated that he and the Forester did what they could to save what trees they could. Many trees on the east side have to be removed so that Williams Pipeline can dig with a backhoe. The trees would have to be trimmed back 20' and in some cases this wouldn't leave much of a tree. Also from the liability aspect, these trees could blow over in a storm with half of their root base cut off.