03-15-2021 Planning Commission Minutes

Home Browse Search

MINUTES OF THE ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION Tuesday,March 15,2021 6:00 o'clock p.m. Nancy Fames,230 Big Island,approached the podium with an eleventh-hour package she is delivering,but she only brought five and can get more for the following day. She noted her property is directly affected by this application. In the exhibits,she showed that it started off with 7 inside lots back in 1980-something. This application is revoked and given to 484 Meadow because he transferred over about 4-5 different private properties. It also adds five additional inside lots to the three that he says are remaining. So now they are kind of over—going backwards—in 35 years,using this as a solution. Ms.Fames feels that history dictates there is just not lakeside for accommodation to 3 or 7 inside lots. Furthermore,they bought the cabin with the value included at$45,000. If this is taken from them and revoked,that value in 35 years of maintenance, taxes, appreciation,just tanked to possibly $20,000 with a property they cannot use. She noted they have spent substantial time improving it, maintaining it, and in the last ten years they have endured several emergency and physical health crises that have deferred them from enjoying the island as they always have with three generations of family. During that time period, which they are still winding down, their kind neighbors have allowed them to use their dock, have helped maintain the area, and in goodwill have even cut the grass and maintained the permit without Ms. Fames even asking. They have even offered to bring the family out there as time has only allowed for them to go out about twice a year, and that is basically to rake leaves, clean up inside and out, and go home. This is while everyone else is out in June and July on the boat, in swimsuits,enjoying life. She sees an end to this in about a year or two and she finds this is the first time in 35 years anybody has tossed out the words"revoke our permit"and it is very,very disturbing, unsettling, and emotional. Ms. Fames does not find any precedence to do that. Perhaps they revisit the wording on the two existing permits so they do not have to go through this grueling, tumultuous, and emotional process, because there just simply aren't enough and everything has been exhausted, in her opinion, by the City. She will happily work with Ms. Curtis and has boxes of records she can help assist with for clarity to the recommendation of this Board, if necessary and required, if they still feel it warrants a recommendation instead of a permanent solution. Ms.Fames has one final thought: it is assessed at$165 [$165,000] with no lakeshore but the permit. The 480 application bought his property just ten years ago, there was precedence, and it was valued at $9,000. Ms. Fames stated it makes it unsellable, and their investment in real estate, and their retirement,is now gone over one dock permit that was properly secured through the proper channels that had a boat since 1942 with that cabin. Initially it was a handshake on the family to the owners. When Ms.Fames' family bought it, it converted to this permit. The only permit they created for this unique property and unique situation. Ressler thinks it will be difficult to read through the handout on the fly. Curtis believes the materials Ms. Fames has provided were emailed to the Commissioners this afternoon. Ms. Fames said [off microphone]there are photos. Ressler clarified for those watching online, the comments were that the handout included some photos reiterating the difficulty of being inclusive of adding more dockage. Chris Bollis,470 Big Island, is just adjacent to the Applicant's property. He only wants to comment about access on the west side of the island. There is a road right-of-way that comes in—he does not know if it has a name—it is just by 460 Big Island. Curtis pointed it out on screen. Page 9 of 34