03-28-2022 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, March 14, 2022 6:00 o’clock p.m. _____________________________________________________________________________________ Page 3 of 8 LA21-000076 – YARDSCAPES, INC., LINCOLN DANFORTH, 1720 BOHNS POINT ROAD, VARIANCES – Continued Mayor Walsh stated there is a brand-new boat house there and he wondered who did it because no permits were pulled, it is not allowed, and it was built in the middle of the night in the wintertime. Mr. Danforth has not been down there since any work was done so he cannot comment on the boat house. Tonight his part is regarding the retaining wall. In 2017, his company did the landscaping on the house next door noting they had permission to repair some failing walls at that time. The engineering is already done as well as drainage and he does not know why the concrete system has an irregular jog outward and whether it was done for structural purposes or extra support at the time. Mayor Walsh said it almost relates to the boat house. The City Council has had people with small boat houses or storage shacks that want to move them and the City has never allowed that, even a foot in the floodplains. Rather, the City Council has had the Applicants raise the structure without going bigger or taller. The problem Mayor Walsh sees in allowing the Applicant to straighten out the walls to make it look better is allowing them to do something that others have not been allowed to do. When there is hardcover, foundations, and structural coverage in the 0-75, they must live with the formation that is there. He noted they must follow like-and-kind and the same footprint as is present currently. The City Council discussed wall integrity, width of the footprint, and like-and-kind. Mr. Danforth asked to go back and revisit what can be done regarding the wall. Johnson moved, Crosby seconded, to table LA21-000076, 1720 BOHNS POINT ROAD, VARIANCES. VOTE: Ayes 3, Nays 0. 16. LA21-000077 - PKA ARCHITECTURE O/B/O LONG LAKE ROWING CREW - FEE WAIVER REQUEST/REIMBURSEMENT OF COSTS City Engineer Edwards stated the City has had proposals by the Long Lake Rowing Club (LLRC) for the construction of a boat house in partnership with the City at Summit Beach Park. The Club submitted a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) and a text amendment application. The Applicant is now withdrawing those applications and has asked for the fees associated with those to be waived and would like to present to the City Council. Rob Berrell, 2740 White Oak Circle, thanked the City Council, Committees, and Staff for their time and energy to explore the idea of a community rowing center. He noted on March 1, 2022, the LLRC Board voted unanimously to withdraw the application for a public-private partnership. Mr. Berrell gave history of the LLRC and shared their goals, stating they took feedback from the Park Commission, City Council, and noted many residents supported the project but wanted to find an alternative location. The LLRC incorporated a host of public amenities for use by the public in the plans. Mr. Berrell shared a timeline of events including interactions with residents, social media misrepresentation, and the LLRC’s welcoming of engagement with the community on the project. He corrected some of the misinformation on the Dayton Family letter, taking over the swim beach, the lake, the park, the parking lot, and other information presented on social media regarding the LLRC. Mr. Berrell respectfully asked that the LLRC’s fees be refunded. Mr. Berrell’s full statement will be attached to the meeting’s packet for the record.