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MINUTES OF THE <br />ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING <br />Monday, November 27, 2017 <br />7:00 o'clock p.m. <br />10. APPROVE TEMPORARY SITE PLAN FOR RIVER VALLEY SPORTS — USE OF A <br />TENT FOR SALES DISPLAY <br />Barnhart reviewed his Staff report dated November 27, 2017, regarding a proposal from River Valley <br />Sports to erect a tent for three months from January 119, 2018, to March 19, 201, to accommodate boat <br />show sales and display. River Valley Sports is located at 1444 Shoreline Drive and operates as a marine <br />based sales and service business. The applicant is proposing to erect a 39' x 82' heated tent in the parking <br />lot located to the north of the existing sales and service building. The applicant is able to meet the <br />additional parking requirements. Staff recommends approval of the temporary site plan/special event <br />permit subject to the conditions outlined in Staff report. <br />Dankey asked if the City is obligated to approve it in subsequent years if it is approved this year. <br />Barnhart stated the City would not be obligated to approve it every year since conditions may change, but <br />that if it becomes a regular request by people or businesses in the City, he would recommend addressing it <br />with a code or ordinance change. <br />Walsh commented this type of proposal can become a slippery slope and that it intensifies the use on the <br />site. Walsh noted the City has a three-day special event permit but not a two or three-month special event <br />permit. Walsh commented he is not a big fan of intensifying a site that really should not be intensified <br />given the past issues with the lot. <br />Barnhart noted there are currently two businesses operating on this site; one being the Your Boat Club <br />and the other being River Valley Sports, which is requesting the special permit for what is considered to <br />be a permitted use. <br />Crosby asked about the residential house to the north. <br />Barnhart indicated there are two residential properties to the north that are not part of this request and that <br />one of the properties is used for overflow parking. <br />Walsh stated as it relates to intensification, when a property is located in a residential district, there are <br />certain expectations that go along with what is allowed there, and that this could lead to any number of <br />businesses that will want tents on their property for months at a time. <br />Barnhart stated Staff could approve a special event permit since they meet all the requirements of the <br />permit. Barnhart stated since there is no time limit in the code, Staff felt it should be brought before the <br />City Council to determine whether any conditions should be added to it. <br />Walsh stated he would not be in favor of allowing it since it intensifies the use and that the residents had <br />no expectation that this would occur on the property. <br />Barnhart noted it is a permitted use in this zoning district and that the residential properties are located in <br />a different zoning district. Barnhart stated he does not understand what the expectations are of the <br />residents and that Staff is asking the City Council to approve this subject to the six conditions outlined in <br />Staff report. <br />Page 9 of 12 <br />