Laserfiche WebLink
MINUTES OF THE <br /> ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION <br /> Monday,April 19,2021 <br /> 6:00 o'clock p.m. <br /> Barnhart said the two conditions imposed that approved the final plat were: 1)access to lot 1 will be via <br /> Walters Port Lane only,and 2)vehicular access to Pence Lane from Lot 1 is expressly prohibited. <br /> Mark Gronberg, Gronberg and Associates,noted they are trying to clean up some things and Dunkley's <br /> have always wanted their driveway to come through Pence Lane because Walters Port is somewhat <br /> narrow and crowded;it just makes a better situation and they are willing to put in a cul-de-sac.He noted <br /> there is 150 foot stretch of Pence Lane that is 30 foot right-of-way as Barnhart mentioned and is about a <br /> 16 foot blacktop now.There are some nice trees,neighbors' fences and it could be widened a bit within <br /> that 30 foot but for that short of a stretch they do not know if it is really necessary because of the cul-de- <br /> sac and they would like feedback on that. They would have to take down some trees but could get 20 feet <br /> wide as fire departments like,or even 24 feet would leave 3 feet on each side. Mr.Gronberg noted <br /> Walters Port is so narrow right now that it makes more sense to have these two lots have their own private <br /> driveways from the cul-de-sac. <br /> Kirchner asked if the existing driveway to lot 1 is intended,too. <br /> Mr. Gronberg replied yes,the existing driveway would remain and there is still a house to the north of Lot <br /> 1 that uses part of that.He pointed out on screen some shared driveways in there and that would still stay. <br /> Sue Dunkley,2709 Walters Port Road,said when they bought this property back in 2018 the neighbor <br /> who is having the issues was not even there yet. Pence Lane,Kelly Avenue that they are talking about <br /> was at one point a public road and in 1985 it was given back to those neighbors because there isn't much <br /> traffic on it. Walters Port,which they come in on now,is also a private road and it is grandfathered in. <br /> She said they had the fire in October of 2019 and it was pretty clear what really needs to happen in this <br /> whole area—they purchased four acres so they could come in the driveway they own and all of that land <br /> that has been in question from the neighbors that came later.They come in 600 feet on their land and all <br /> of this has been trying to get them not to come in the land that they purchased and pay taxes on. She <br /> knows the Commissioners have a letter she has not seen and that is not surprising,but the whole idea is <br /> when they bought the land,the purpose was to come in on the land they bought,that gated area. Ms. <br /> Dunkley said they have worked really hard trying to make it incredibly safe for everyone and after the <br /> fire,they are at the dead end right now,if there is a UPS truck,a moving truck,a fire truck,there was <br /> nowhere to turn around and she stated they have solved all of those issues. They would like to be able to <br /> have those neighbors—not everyone in the world—be able to go out and around again. When one comes <br /> down Walters Port the only surface to do anything with is their driveway so they are really trying to <br /> improve this whole neighborhood.Ms.Dunkley said when they purchased the land it had washers and <br /> dryers and mattresses and they are trying to make it a beautiful park-like area. They own it and they really <br /> want to be able to come in and look at the land they bought;they do not want to be restricted by someone <br /> that bought a back lot and thinks that they should not come in on their land. If one wants control and <br /> privacy maybe they do not buy a lot that comes in 600 feet on someone else's property. She noted they <br /> have finally come up with a plan that makes sense to everybody. What they have done is taken a map that <br /> was really a mess due to some new neighbors that moved in and make them jump through all these hoops. <br /> She hopes after four years that they really can look at this reasonably and say what is best for the area,the <br /> five homeowners on Walters Port and what really works. There is the same amount of traffic in those <br /> areas as always and those two driveways will be close to the same width. She hopes to work with the <br /> Commissioners and everyone to make it a safe area. <br /> Page 8 of 10 <br />