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MINUTES OF THE <br /> ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION <br /> Tuesday,March 15,2021 <br /> 6:00 o'clock p.m. <br /> Bollis stated the Commission has to look at what is in front of them and the code allows provision for inland <br /> lots to apply for a dock as long as it does not affect the neighboring properties. The first thing this does is <br /> affect the neighbor at 230 Big Island because it revokes their dock permit. He thinks any solution they <br /> come up with should really consider 230 Big Island and make sure it is an equitable solution for both. He <br /> does not know that they can find a comprehensive solution tonight for all of the inland lots,he thinks they <br /> have to look at the permit requests the Commission has in front of them and design the permit so that it is <br /> similar to what they did with the original one 2038 and have some language in there that if additional people <br /> apply,then that permit gets revisited and looked at again. He knows as a permit holder it is not fun,but it <br /> seems like it could be an easy solution right now and the Applicant is being neighborly about this and <br /> agreeing to additional conditions on the permit to appease the neighbors. He noted there are endless <br /> conditions they could put on it so the neighbors feel comfortable he will use the dock for the purpose he <br /> wants to use it for. McCutcheon said he did not hear from Ms.Fames about what she thought of the shared <br /> dock solution. <br /> Ms.Fames said the information delivered to her was late on Friday and she has spent 24 hours a day trying <br /> to pull something together. She said absolutely not. In the packet she delivered, it is not even feasible and <br /> the space does not even allow for two boats with one dock and/or two docks. <br /> Bollis stated it appears that it would require a variance from LMCD for that dock. <br /> Ms. Fames noted all the traffic,the drainage area that has been tampered with, it is full trees there on both <br /> sides which she showed pictures in her packet. There will have to be surveys, trees cut down, damage to <br /> the island, and it just seems a bit much when there are still so many other empty lots. For 35 years there <br /> has been the same amount of empty,vacant lots. Perhaps a lottery when somebody turns it in to amend the <br /> language. <br /> Bollis clarified Ms. Fames' short answer is no, she does not like it. <br /> Ressler is not entirely in disagreement and thinks what the Commission has ahead of them is addressing <br /> how the City would like to grant access to all of these inland lots. It is not going to stop here and he thinks <br /> there are other considerations here. If they take out the water and were looking at this as if it were a road <br /> accessed lot, it would also be difficult to figure out how to provide access because there is no road there. <br /> Ressler thinks it is prudent for the City to decide how they want to handle all of these inland lots. One of <br /> the public comments was about a fire—the more structure they have out there besides the fact that it would <br /> take away trees which the City is generally opposed to—they are also creating a fire hazard with the more <br /> habitation and structure there is,the less ability there is to extinguish that structure and the greater risk of <br /> losing that structure as well as the rest of the island. These are his concerns as they talk about developing <br /> these inland lots which are generally not even accessible and that is probably one of the reasons why the <br /> price tag is what it is. He said of course the property owned by Three Rivers would be a great alternative <br /> to provide some dockage for inland docks and he understands that Three Rivers is not in support of <br /> providing an easement for that. He does not know if that resonates something on its own. Ressler said <br /> before they make it easier to access these inland lots,they need to address the additional use and access of <br /> the inland lots. He does not know that they will be able to decipher that tonight. Once they get through <br /> that,then they have to talk about lot sizes and what the building envelope is. Being able to provide private <br /> sewer and septic or well becomes a concern,they have minimum setback requirements, reasonable access <br /> requirements, and there is a lot to unpack. He personally feels this is an issue they need to figure out but <br /> Page 12 of 34 <br />