03-14-2022 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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Joe & Sara Thull 480 Big Island I wanted to provide a summary of the last 18 months regarding my efforts in working with the City to obtain a dock license and achieve a reliability option to reach our property. I made my first inquire to Ms. Melanie Curtis and the Orono City back in November of 2020. I explained to Ms. Curtis that we had been anchoring and swimming to shore to access our property to camp. I also explained that we were going to start developing our lot overtime and currently have approved and pending permits. In the discussions a few options were outlined to gain dock access. 1. Easement: I could gain an easement from a neighbor or a property owner within proximity to my location. I pursed this but after multiple inquires I did not find anyone that would consider this option. To date I currently don’t have a viable option. 2.Secondly, I pursued a potential easement with Three River’s Park District, as the right-of- way running at the end of our property stops short and does not reach the shoreline, this would have been an ideal place but after a review by Three River’s Park they denied my request. 3.I kept the City Planning Office up-to-date and it was then suggested that I pursue a dock request at Bay Place, during this review time the City Council was looking at a more comprehensive plan for dock access should other requests come forward in the future. This involved several meetings with the City Council and Big Island property owners to create a solution that would work for everyone. After numerous meetings, an aligned solution was never agreed to. The City Council started looking at how other cities had solved this and a license program for various sites was put under consideration. 4. Mr. Jeremy Barnhart at the direction of the council and created dock license program and started investigating the various right-of-way sites where a dock could be approved. Each site has their own unique aspects to width, length, grade and general suitability. 5.After several City Council meetings and public input, when it came to reapplying for the dock license, I applied at the Massasoit Ave. right-a-way, site BI-6, given its proximity to our property and suitability for a dock. 6. The City applied for a license from the LMCD. 7.Fast forward to February 9th, 2022, the LMCD reviewed the proposal for a dock a Massasoit Ave – this dock proposal required no variances and was approved for 1 SBU by the committee. 8. The LMCD Board met on February 23rd, 2022, and voted to approve the dock at Massasoit Ave. Council Exhibit B BI-6