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November 11, 2019 <br /> Chair <br /> Orono City Planning Commission <br /> 2750 Kelly Parkway <br /> Orono, Minnesota 55323 <br /> RE: Public Notice LA19-000085 Evenson request for amendment to Lakeview of Orono Conservation <br /> Easement <br /> Dear Members of the Orono Planning Commission, <br /> Along with our North Arm neighbors and many other Orono residents we watched in horror as Chris and <br /> Amy Evenson lost their home,their landscaping, and their beloved dog to a terrible fire on July 13, 2018. <br /> After an outpouring of sympathy and support we are all delighted that the Evensons have decided to <br /> rebuild and remain a part of the Lakeview community. <br /> We have lived at 580 North Arm Drive for 33 years. Our property is across the road from the Lakeview <br /> Development and the Evenson property. We are also founding members of the non-profit entity that <br /> owns a conservation easement establishing Lakeview Legacy Park,which is north of the Evensons and <br /> has a clear view of their house and backyard area. We are unable to attend the Commission meeting on <br /> November 18th and are therefore providing these written comments. <br /> Since the written description of this request and the proposed ordinance language was not available <br /> prior to the requested deadline for written comments from the public,we can only express our opinion <br /> after a telephone inquiry with City Staff and a conversation with the Evensons themselves. <br /> Based on the information orally available to us, it appears that this was a tragic sequence of unintended <br /> events in which the Evensons landscaped their property without knowledge or intent of encroaching <br /> upon their conservation easement and without guidance or objection from the City. Absent the tragedy <br /> of the fire, it seems unlikely that this issue would have ever arisen. We as neighbors and as one of the <br /> benefactors of Lakeview Park do not object to the Evensons request. We believe that it is only fair to <br /> allow them to recreate what was already defacto approved by the City and do not believe that this small <br /> change in the easement would have any adverse effect on the function or intent of their conservation <br /> easement or on the nearby park. In addition, it is our understanding that the Evensons have also added <br /> a native planting area on the non-easement portion of their property that could be viewed as offsetting <br /> part of the disputed conservation easement area. <br /> We believe that in this case common sense and a recognition on the part of the City that they are also <br /> responsible for the error that occurred should allow this family to keep their landscaping as rebuilt and <br /> redraw their conservation easement to reflect that. This is truly an unusual situation and should not in <br /> any way threaten the amount or intent of the remaining Lakeview development conservation <br /> easements,for which we are very supportive and appreciative. <br /> Sincerely, <br /> Bryce and Paula Johnson <br />