Laserfiche WebLink
MINUTES OF THE <br />ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING <br />Monday, June 22, 2015 <br />7:00 o’clock p.m. <br />_____________________________________________________________________________________ <br />  <br />Page 16 of 19  <br />  <br />Walsh stated he attended the Planning Commission meeting on Monday and that Commissioner John <br />Thiesse made a great statement that it is not the City’s job to design the house or to tell someone what to <br />do. <br /> <br />Walsh stated at the March Planning Commission meeting, he witnessed George Stickney present his <br />development near Lake Mooney on behalf of the Dayton family. Walsh noted Mr. Stickney is proposing <br />to develop 11 lots rather than maximizing the site and that the plan was conforming in every way. Walsh <br />stated beyond some little tweaks, the plan looked great. <br /> <br />Walsh stated before the next Planning Commission meeting in June, Mr. Gronholz reached out to him and <br />talked about some issues that were going on with the project, such as a potential lawsuit. Walsh stated <br />due to his concerns, he decided to meet Mr. Gronholz out at the site along with the developer and that he <br />found out there was some interference in the project, which was disturbing to him. Walsh stated he was <br />told the Dayton family wanted to preserve the prairie and that they made it very clear at the March <br />Planning Commission meeting that they did not want any more houses in the prairie. Walsh stated that <br />plan ran into an issue with Mayor McMillan, who had a different idea to save the trees. <br /> <br />Walsh stated to go and meet with a developer and a property owner and to push an agenda on behalf of <br />the City Council or under the threat and guise that the application will not get through the Planning <br />Commission or City Council if it is not done her way is unprecedented interference as far as he is <br />concerned. <br /> <br />Walsh stated in addition, after the March Planning Commission meeting, Council Member Levang was <br />lobbying the developer to change his plan <br /> <br />Levang stated that is not true. Levang noted George Stickney was shaking his head indicating that that is <br />not true. <br /> <br />Walsh stated the Mayor should recuse herself from any votes on that application. <br /> <br />McMillan stated Council Member Walsh is out of bounds. McMillan noted this is the Mayor/Council <br />report and that he should be talking about the community. <br /> <br />Walsh commented this is about the community. <br /> <br />McMillan stated she is not sure what developer’s meeting he is talking about. McMillan stated in her <br />view Council Member Walsh is out of bounds. <br /> <br />Walsh stated in his view the Mayor was out of bounds and interfering with an application that is in front <br />of the Planning Commission and the City Council. <br /> <br />McMillan asked Council Member Walsh to show respect for the process. <br /> <br />Walsh stated the Mayor should look in the mirror a little bit. Walsh stated he would encourage the <br />Dayton’s and Mr. Stickney to bring back their original proposal for preserving the prairie and have an <br />honest public hearing at the City Council level. <br /> <br />McMillan noted the application is in the process and that it has gone through the Planning Commission.