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MINUTES OF THE <br />ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING <br />Monday, November 18, 2019 <br />6:30 o’clock p.m. <br />_____________________________________________________________________________________ <br /> <br />Page 25 of 46 <br /> <br />and their kids when they were living at home. It's a great way to enjoy summer especially, and they also <br />used it for winter activities like snowmobiling. They are in favor of keeping it open. <br /> <br />Mr. Penn Bowen and Ms. Suzanne Downs, 4190 Highwood Road. Mr. Bowen said his primary concern is <br />one of safety. There are no fire hydrants on the street, everybody on his end has a well, and if there is a <br />fire, the suggested access, which is closer to 19, would be that much farther away. He knows fire trucks <br />are modern and they can often carry water, but taking the access away doesn't serve the community, <br />especially in an emergency situation. A reduction in the benefit is going backward, in his opinion. <br /> <br />Ms. Downs stated they enjoy the access very much. They have lived in the house 21 years, their two <br />children grew up there, and even as small children they used the access to the lake. <br /> <br />Mr. Bowen said he does not feel it is rugged in any way. It is not that steep. In the wintertime the incline <br />has nothing to do with anything, it's packed in with snow, and you can't see any problem as far as <br />ruggedness or anything like that. Also, it is a selling point for people who don't have lake access. One of <br />the strong aspects to having two on the street is that there are two, and getting rid of the corridor to the <br />lake could possibly affect home value. <br /> <br />Mr. Griffith said he wanted to make clear that any Drainage and Utility Easement down to the lake would <br />continue to provide access for firefighting purposes. <br /> <br />Chair Ressler closed the public hearing at 8:55 p.m. <br /> <br />Barnhart stated the public hearing would be continued to the City Council meeting to allow the DNR to <br />provide comment during the public hearing. <br /> <br />Ressler stated the public hearing would be continued but it would be brought back to the Commissioners <br />for discussion. <br /> <br />Thiesse said he is from the old school, and if there is not a purpose to get rid of it, he is not for it. He <br />stated there was a lot of representation of public use to this property, and he does not see why the <br />Commission would be talking about vacating this property. <br /> <br />Gettman said this is a lake access issue and he does not see the justification for the vacation. <br /> <br />Bollis stated he agrees with Staff. He does not see a public benefit to vacate it, and the public uses it. <br /> <br />Erickson asked the applicant if there has been a proposal of monetary compensation to the City. <br /> <br />Mr. Griffith said the Smiths and Musgjerds have proposed $35,000 as payment to the City's parks. <br />