06-25-2018 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday,June 25,2018 7:00 o'clock p.m. 14. LA18-55 PAUL VOGSTROM OB/O WILLIAM AND SUE DUNKLEY,2709 WALTERS PORT LANE,SKETCH PLAN—Continued Howery commented he wants to make the lot look beautiful and that he wants to work with the City and the Watershed District to restore the wetland,which will be paid for by the Dunkleys. Howery noted currently there is rainwater runoff from three different houses that spills right into the wetland,which does not help the wetland. Over time,years of junk,debris,and leaves have built up,and two weeks ago he fished out eight bags of trash that just happened to show up. Howery stated they also want to have more water holding capacity so if there is an issue with the weather,it will not overflow Walters Port and flood the homes on the other side. Howery indicated they are trying to be good stewards of the land. Howery noted they would like to move the road slightly so a nice line of trees can be planted. Howery indicated he is working on a plan that literally has about 100 different trees,both evergreens and deciduous. Howery stated they are all good plants for the native birds and will help enhance the wetland. Howery stated the Dunkleys are very forward thinking in making this area beautiful and by restoring and saving the wetland. Walsh stated he would like to refocus the conversation back to what the City Council needs to consider regarding how to make sure it is a conforming lot,the width of the road and whether there should be a cul-de-sac,and then the sightline or not the sightlines. Walsh stated whether they are making the water beautiful or cutting down trees is not what the City Council is talking about tonight. Sheila Vakean,Pence Lane, stated Pence Lane was a beautiful arching road with all kinds of trees and privacy but that the trees have been cut down. Vakean noted the woods are not that close to the shoreline so it probably was not necessary to have a variance but that in her view between 50 to 75 trees were cut down. Vakean stated the trees were not all diseased because they were stacked in piles that were hauled away. Vakean commented at times they are not getting the whole truth in what they are hearing. Vakean stated there have been times on the weekends when they do work that probably has not been approved and that she has not seen a single truck on Walters Port. Vakean stated she is sure that is the way it will be in the future as well. Vakean stated while it will probably look beautiful when it is finished,she has questions about the way it seems to be skirting every rule possible and that it looks like deals are being made behind people's backs,which they do not want to have happening in Orono. Andrew McDermott,2702 Walters Port Lane,stated he read the report from the Planning Commission and there seems to be a push for a 24-foot wide road. McDermott requested the City Council reconsider that. Currently the road is 15 feet wide,which has been that way since 1960s,and the road has functioned just fine,even when there used to be seven homes on Walters Port. Currently there are only five. McDermott stated he understands they will need to widen Pence at some point and that eventually the subdivision will be figured out. McDermott noted the two lots consist of four acres and that the second lot is zoned one acre. McDermott noted the Dunkleys could have proposed four homes for that area since it is zoned one acre. McDermott requested the City Council keep the road as narrow as possible. Walsh stated the width of the road has been one of the issues,and according to City Code,if the road is to be conforming,it needs to be 24 feet wide with a cul-de-sac at the end. Page 14 of 21