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MINUTES OF THE <br /> ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING <br /> Monday,May 20,2013 <br /> 6:30 o'clock p.m. <br /> Landgraver stated he was opposed to the motion since the applicant went through a process of discussing <br /> this with the appropriate officials and then he finds out there is some kind of communication or public <br /> relations shortcoming. The neighbors are frustrated but the operator of the boat club was not aware of <br /> those concerns,which is an issue. <br /> Matt Johnson stated he is getting the impression that he should have had more involvement with the City. <br /> What is happening is that someone is running a commercial business next to a residential property and <br /> that the manager of the business has to know the condition of that building. He should also know that <br /> there are parties going on in there since they happen every night during the summer. Johnson stated there <br /> is also a substantial amount of debris around the property. <br /> Johnson stated when he hears Commissioner Landgraver say that they should have let the City know,the <br /> onus is on the owner of the commercial property to resolve these issues. Johnson indicated they have <br /> never been approached by that group and that they are reasonable people who have lived in Orono for a <br /> long time. <br /> Anderson commented that is why there is a public hearing. <br /> Landgraver stated there needs to be a public relations issue that needs to be addressed and open lines of <br /> communication between the parties. Tabling the application would facilitate that. <br /> Bennett stated her concern with the property is not necessarily what the neighbors are saying but the fact <br /> that they are using a residential property for commercial uses. The concern deepens when he says he does <br /> not know whether he has a lease to do that or not and who would be liable if someone was hurt. <br /> Gaffron noted this item will go before the City Council sometime in June. <br /> *5. #13-3602 CITY OF ORONO,AMEND HARDCOVER REGULATIONS IN 78-571 <br /> Landgraver moved, Schoenzeit seconded,to recommend approval of Application #13-3602 City of <br /> Orono,Amend Hardcover Regulations in 78-571. VOTE: Ayes 6,Nays 0. <br /> OLD BUSINESS <br /> 6. #13-3601 CITY OF ORONO,WETLAND ORDINANCE AMENDMENT, 8:17 P.M. - 8:34 <br /> P.M. <br /> Gaffron noted the City has spent some time reviewing their wetland ordinances. One of the key elements <br /> that came out of those discussions was that the biggest issue with the wetland ordinance is enforcement <br /> and administration of a buffer requirement, which is fairly new and was adopted in 2005. The City had a <br /> 26-foot setback requirement going back to 1974 or 1975, which was adopted when the City was entirely <br /> rezoned and a number of other requirements were put into place. In 2005,that was changed from a <br /> buffer setback to the required establishment of buffers that were triggered by a significant number of <br /> activities that someone might do to their property. <br /> As a result of the discussions, Staff has looked at an ordinance amendment that removes the buffer <br /> requirements from the code and provides the Watershed District with authority for managing buffers. <br /> Page 21 of 25 <br />