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MINUTES OF THE <br /> ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION <br /> Monday,July 19,2021 <br /> 6:00 o'clock p.m. <br /> Ressler continued to echo McCutcheon's opinion that this is a unique property and its use,character,and <br /> feasibility for its campers is something that he is really supportive of.He would much rather see this <br /> camp continue to thrive and he thinks this will allow it to do so.He does not think that adding the <br /> additional structure will add an eyesore to the lake and is thoughtfully placed within the application.He is <br /> in support of the application because it is a unique campsite that is trying to find themselves in <br /> compliance with ADA as well as being able to accommodate young campers. <br /> Erickson does not see a practical difficulty in this;in order to qualify as a practical difficulty the result <br /> must be not for the convenience of the Applicant. When they say the reason they have to be in the 75 foot <br /> zone is because of kids running around while they are trying to carry lifejackets,but what he did not hear <br /> is that perhaps they should hire more staff to watch the kids. To Erickson, it is for their convenience that <br /> they can do these things closer to the lake than they are supposed to be and not take on additional staff to <br /> watch the kids.To him,it is a convenience issue which does not qualify as a practical difficulty. <br /> Bollis would echo McCutcheon and Ressler, and add that he sees the practical difficulty as converting this <br /> so it is ADA accessible not only for campers but also for employees working there. He does not believe <br /> the current configuration would be accessible to have a wheelchair come in,navigate the space, and then <br /> come back out.He thinks there are unique features to this being that it is a camp and not a private <br /> residence so he does not think they are setting a precedent there.However,he would like to note that the <br /> Applicant is going away from the lake with the expansion of it, and he also likes that they are not <br /> proposing to come closer to the lake. <br /> Kirchner's biggest hang-up is the expansion of the boathouse,he is okay with the boardwalks,it is strictly <br /> the footprints of the boathouse. While he generally supports what Commissioner Bollis said regarding <br /> making this ADA compliant,he has not heard that the Applicant has tried to repurpose the existing <br /> footprint and found that it is completely unusable to make it ADA compliant.Now the Commission is <br /> drawing an inference that they think it could not be made that way and he would rather hear that they <br /> have tried and realize there is no physical way to make the existing structure ADA compliant. <br /> Mr.Matasovsky noted an ADA restroom needs a five foot circle for a wheelchair turn and that L-shaped <br /> has no room for a five foot turn in it at all. The new shaped building would allow for a wheelchair turn <br /> around. <br /> Gettman thought this building was purely for storage and there would not be activities in the building.He <br /> asked if someone with a wheelchair would be turning around or if they would just be dropping off <br /> lifejackets and oars. <br /> Mr.Matasovsky replied at the front door they would be dropping things off,however if someone needed <br /> to be brought inside,the lifejackets are being hung to dry above the head.He clarified this year they have <br /> 50%camp capacity and they had trouble staffing that amount. <br /> Gettman asked if the Applicant has looked at trying to keep that same footprint and updating or upgrading <br /> it. <br /> Mr.Matasovsky replied they have done some drawings and looked at it. It then causes them to use the <br /> staircase and the one building that touches the 75 foot setback,they have to carry lifejackets up the hill <br /> and store it there.He noted they have quite a bit stored on the beach and they would like those things <br /> stored away and not have them out all the time. <br /> Page 14 of 18 <br />