03-15-2021 Planning Commission Minutes

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION Tuesday,March 15,2021 6:00 o'clock p.m. bigger story than simply accessing the lake via one particular location. To that end, there are a couple of access points on the west bay, four on the east bay and asked how is this all going to look? They certainly do not want to have a marina next to their property and if that becomes the access point for all inland properties on the island,that would be a significant concern. He thinks what would be fair is west going to the west and east going to the east. From a larger standpoint they then discuss the strategy of all the inland owners as opposed to simply one. Suzy and Peter Thiss, 270 Big Island, have thoughts of one land owner, one boat, one slip. She does not understand the wording that Fred and Nancy's dock permit can be revoked;does that mean Fred and Nancy can revoke it from the Thu11 family next year? Ressler noted that is one of his questions, as well. Again, they have to speculate because it was several years ago that it was issued, but he ventures a guess that the reason it is worded that way is because they want the opportunity to revisit that permit at the same time of issuing another one; and that is the trigger for the event. If there is another application for a dock,they want to be able to change the approval or the use of that—that is the only speculation he might have. It will probably come up in the discussion among the Commissioners. Ressler does not think it is a black and white situation where now there has been an application, one loses their rights to a dock. He thinks it becomes more of a situation where it is revisited because of the trigger. Ms. Thiss noted it is a very passive, quiet place with deer, foxes, and all kinds of things in that meadow. She noted everyone enjoys it, and so does nature. The whole idea of making it a multiple dock or dock sharing,Ms.Thiss does not think it is a marina and thinks that the Power Squadron is a super viable option for someone who needs to get to their place,use a bathroom,take a shower, as all those facilities are there. She stated the whole idea that someone can put up a cabin and not cut down trees and make more paths...this past year there were ATVs going around the island with chain saws at night and there were people cutting paths and running the camouflaged 4-wheelers like crazy. She noted that is the kind of stuff she would hate to see because there is so little land in the City, it is important to preserve Big Island and to look 10-15 years down the road and keep it that way. Ted Hanna, 490 Big Island, said his parents have owned the property since 1968 and he got it about 10 years ago. He would be a little concerned about having some access in the future. He lived over in Greenwood until about a year ago so it was mostly just winter ski access for him with a tent platform and a teepee. He noted it would be great to get out there and visit some more—they do not have a family cabin which used to be on the south side of all this for years. He would ask that some kind of solution might be figured out for some kind of dock access. He noted one comment mentioned a piece of land where Three Rivers is—he asked if that would ever be up for imminent domain. Curtis clarified the piece of land that is blocking the right-of-way continuation used to be all one little sliver. Mr. Hanna sees that those pieces are now deeded to the adjacent landowners. Curtis replied that is right and this one is owned by Three Rivers and they have declined—she believes one of those reasons is the funding source that they used to purchase the property prohibits granting an easement or selling it for any of those uses. Mr. Hanna asked the Thulls if they have thought about using something down on that side. He noted he may be in front of the Commission in the future to try to figure something out, as well. Page 8 of 34