11-23-2020 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, November 9, 2020 6:00 o’clock p.m. _____________________________________________________________________________________ Page 9 of 15 Crosby noted it is just like short-term rentals; they do not want just anyone coming in to the neighborhood, they want accountability as they have to protect the neighbors that live there. He thinks they need to come up with something reasonable that can accommodate this. Walsh said he does not think they are here to make a decision about what that is today; rather it is more giving a direction of where the Council would like to see it go and then allow it to go through the process. Printup noted over the years there has been a lot of information on these subjects which may be painful to read through. Johnson noted he is not in support because it is such a slippery slope. He said it also puts a cap on the amount of activity for abutting property owners that occurs at the dock. Every time they introduce another party that has right and access, there is a certain amount of distraction that goes with it. He said it sounds like the neighbors get along, but there was a complaint. Unfortunately, in Orono, they do not go around enforcing the ordinances, they “make” neighbors tattle on neighbors, as that is how they are set up. He said he does not agree with that either. Somebody is not okay with this, and that neighbor had a right to say it is in violation of the code. He noted the Rudds seem like very nice and very respectful people, and he is not saying otherwise, however the City Council cannot base their decisions on that neighborhood. Rather, they must do it over the whole of the city. They cannot have the same expectations of respect that this neighborhood has across the whole city. He does not see a path where they can soften it up and still protect the property rights without all neighbors having to tattle on neighbors because of a code violation. Based on what he knows right now, he would not be in favor. He noted he thinks there is something in there that allowed neighbors to be there for 72 hours. Barnhart responded that was one of the exceptions considered in 2012. Ms. Rudd said it is not about bringing more boats to the area, but that the neighbors across the street have always kept a boat there and her in-laws have always kept a boat there. Now, her in-laws do not keep a boat there, but Melanders do. Johnson realizes for this specific situation it is a pattern. However, this affects all of Orono residents with a variety of different types of lakeshore, densities, and respect, so it needs to be a consideration. Walsh said Johnson is most likely referring to all the extra traffic at the dock for the neighboring property owners. Crosby said if the person is not using their dock-slip, and they allow a close neighbor to have a boat there, it does not affect that neighborhood. The dock owner is simply giving that right to a neighbor. He thinks the intention on the dock rental was to keep people away from outside. He thinks there should be a further discussion or they should table it to get more into the weeds on it. He is still okay with it. Walsh clarified he did not say he was or was not. Crosby noted his neighbor next door does not have a dock in the water. If they put a dock in and allowed a close-by neighbor to use their slip, it is like 6-of-1, half-dozen-of-the-other. The bottom line is if the neighbor wanted a dock and boat, they could. They are not adding an extra boat. He stated in that case, it would make sense because then everyone is infringing upon the neighbors next door.