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MINUTES OF THE <br /> ORONO PARK COMMISSION <br /> Monday,November 4,2019 <br /> 6:30 o'clock p.m. <br /> detriment to the residents. The neighbors appreciate the smaller scale presence of the rowers on the lake <br /> and Long Lake is a recreational lake for fishing,paddle boarding,pontooning, skiing, swimming and <br /> other activities. <br /> Feldman stated as a registered nurse, from a public health and safety perspective, expanding the club <br /> would be a very poor decision and poses a danger to people enjoying the beach and swimming area. <br /> Since she has lived in her house,there has been a swimming section for people of all ages and <br /> neighboring dogs enjoying the lake. The people visiting the park ranges from tiny children to groups of <br /> elderly people out swimming. Boats will come down to this end of the lake to anchor down and relax and <br /> swim and jump off the rope swing,which is a fun feature of the lake. Lots of high schoolers enjoy using <br /> it and other people picnic there and lay out in hammocks. Summit Beach is a relaxing and peaceful beach <br /> that the neighbors hope the City continues nurturing. Placing a boathouse at the beach would be <br /> dangerous to swimmers,boaters,floaters,and families. <br /> Feldman noted the rowers were asked to change their path to avoid the swimming area. Besides being a <br /> concerned neighbor, she is also an unofficial nature lover. Going forward with any type of expansion <br /> plan would not only affect recreation at the beach but would also destroy a nature preserve and large <br /> grassy area. The world needs more open, quiet and natural areas. There are wild turkeys that flock there, <br /> eagles, deer,and other animals that enjoy this area. <br /> Feldman noted since they have lived in their home,the rowing club received approval for longer hours <br /> and that she would like to see the rowing hours restricted back to what they were previously. This past <br /> summer the rowing club was outside of their expanded hours and it is difficult to see the boats against the <br /> setting sun. Currently the rowing club has a home outside Birches,which is an ideal location. Birches <br /> places a restriction on the number of rowers and it is a safe place for the rowers to go in and out of the <br /> lake since there is no beach there where there will be swimmers and other people enjoying the water. <br /> Feldman encouraged the Park Commission to reject any proposal to place a boathouse on Summit Beach <br /> and any expansion of the rowing club. <br /> Norm Hammond,450 East long Lake Road,noted he has resided at his house for more than 50 years, and <br /> that he would request Summit Beach be maintained as a natural setting as a neighborhood beach,which is <br /> more or less the way the beach and park has been maintained over the past 50 years. <br /> Hammond indicated he does agree with the comments of the previous speaker regarding construction of <br /> permanent structures on the Summit Beach property. People come to Summit Beach to enjoy the natural <br /> environment, and that he and his family would like to strongly encourage the City to not allow any <br /> expansion of the park. <br /> Betsy Johnson,460 Long Lake Road East, stated the structure they are proposing to construct would be <br /> right in front of her house. The building is proposed to be 9,000 square feet and her house is 7,000 square <br /> feet. With this structure in front of her home, she might be able to see the lake if she is upstairs looking <br /> out the window. The view out the front of her house will be the back of the building. When they <br /> purchased their house in 2010,they felt it was a charming area and that they are disappointed that this is <br /> even being considered. <br /> Page 5 of 15 <br />