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MINUTES OF THE <br /> ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION <br /> Monday,June 17,2019 <br /> 6:30 o'clock p.m. <br /> Doepke asked if there is ever a geological survey of the bluff required as part of an application to <br /> determine whether heavy rains would impact the bluff. <br /> Oakden stated it is her understanding the engineers do an analysis of the slope but that she is not sure <br /> whether they perform an analysis of potential slope failure. <br /> Curtis stated the bluff impact zone is the actual bluff itself. <br /> Rabbi Marsha Zimmerman stated she is the senior rabbi at Temple Israel and they are 141 years old. <br /> Temple Israel has owned Camp Teko for the last 54 years and before that it was a Boy Scout camp. <br /> Temple Israel believes in the power of giving young people a camp experience because they know two of <br /> the top Jewish traditions or experiences are camping and a trip to the Jewish State of Israel. Temple Israel <br /> believes Camp Teko provides the children with a strong identity and teaches them the strength of <br /> independence. <br /> As it relates to the intensified use,they would like to use Camp Teko more often. The strategic plan <br /> developed in the past two years identified that the use of Camp Teko is very crucial and important and it <br /> should be used more. Currently Camp Teko is limited to 165 campers because of the possibility of <br /> inclement weather and there is a wait list because the available slots fill up within two weeks. The <br /> congregation would like to include more campers. Currently 40 percent of campers come from the <br /> congregation and 60 percent from the wider community. <br /> The other component of the intensified use is the ability to offer different activities. This project will <br /> allow children to experience Camp Teko in a very different way,will teach them what it means to live on <br /> the land, and provide them with the experience of sleeping outdoors. Currently the program allows <br /> kindergarteners the opportunity to attend the camp and they would like to expand the program so middle <br /> schoolers can have their own experiences at the camp. There are very few bathroom facilities and those <br /> are clumped into one area. The reality is that a number of kids can fit in the lower level, but the <br /> bathrooms are on the upper level, which is not safe when there is inclement weather. The program center <br /> will have a teaching kitchen and bathrooms located on the bottom level. <br /> Ressler noted they are looking to intensify enrollment. Ressler asked whether they have a gauge as to <br /> how many that will be increased to. <br /> Zimmerman indicated no more than 200. <br /> Ressler asked whether the total number of structures will go from 16 to 21. <br /> Zimmerman noted many of the structures are not usable because they have not been upgraded. Camp <br /> Teko also offers sixth grade winter retreats and they are looking to enhance that programming as well. <br /> Rick Parker,Brandstetter Carroll, stated they are based out of Cleveland, Ohio, and that his career has <br /> focused on designing and improving camps around the country for the past 40 years. Parker stated to his <br /> knowledge as part of the overall project 11 new structures will be added and six buildings will be <br /> removed. A big part of the intensification is to provide more indoor space. Camp Teko currently has a <br /> dining hall, a bath house, and a small program facility, which means most of the time they are outside. <br /> The plan will provide a variety of indoor space with bathrooms as appropriate. The other element of the <br /> plan is improvement of the parking lot. To some degree there is some confusion about where to go once <br /> Page 11 of 24 <br />