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Applicants seek guidance on private‑lane subdivision; commission asks for engineer redraw and Johnson DeMille review
Summary
Applicants outlined a 4.5‑ and 5‑acre proposal that would rely on a private lane; commissioners raised fire‑access, right‑of‑way and lot‑size concerns and advised the applicants to return with engineering plans for review by Johnson DeMille.
Applicants Mark Newman and Chris Hanson presented preliminary subdivision sketches for multiple lots accessed from an existing 28‑foot right‑of‑way. Commissioners said the 28‑foot corridor appears too narrow for reliable emergency access, trash collection and snow removal and noted the city has seldom approved subdivisions that rely on private lanes for access to multiple homes.
Commissioners and staff walked through design constraints: minimum lot size under current ordinance (0.455 acres), required pavement width (staff cited a typical 24‑foot paved width with additional right‑of‑way), cul‑de‑sac/hammerhead turnaround requirements, and how roadway easements affect lot area calculations. "I don't think any of us would be comfortable with that 28 feet," said Unidentified Speaker 2, describing fire‑access and service concerns.
The commission advised the applicants to have their engineer redraw the plan showing a practical street alignment and to consult the city‑hired engineering reviewer (Johnson DeMille) to test turnaround and pavement dimensions. The commissioners also discussed whether the subdivision would qualify for a 'simple lot split' exemption; staff said that because water/sewer would have to be extended, that exemption likely would not apply.
Next steps: applicants were asked to submit redrawn engineering plans and to consult Johnson DeMille; staff will place the resubmitted plan on a future agenda for formal review.
