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MINUTES OF THE <br /> ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION <br /> Monday,May 16,2022 <br /> 6:00 o'clock p.m. <br /> He shared that is his input and agreed with the question of where the City will draw the line and where <br /> they will not. Mr. Phipps noted enforcement is another matter. <br /> Chair McCutcheon asked what zone Mr. Phipps lives in. <br /> Mr.Phipps replied the lots are 1/2 acre minus wetland. <br /> Greg Hahn was called late this afternoon to represent Mitch and Georgina Rasmussen,living on Park <br /> Drive.Mr.Hahn thanked Mr.Barnhart as the family has been after this for two years and shared a <br /> handout showing what the neighbors are looking at,noting it varies from day-to-day anywhere from 10- <br /> 16 cars.Hardcover is an issue to talk about, as it the number of vehicles on a piece of property that is not <br /> even 1/2 acre.The owners have been there for 20-30 years and it changed when the next door neighbor <br /> purchased this property which has an accessory building on it. Mr.Hahn believes the building is probably <br /> being used for mechanical or fix-up purposes and does not know if there is a license or zoning that needs <br /> to be done.Mr. Hahn stated this is an issue as the property owners are both retired and are selling their <br /> property.Mr.Hahn is a real estate agent and he suggested talking to the City Planning and Zoning about <br /> the number of cars and what is going on next door because it does affect the value of their property. <br /> Recently Mr. Rasmussen's health has turned which has accelerated the need to get things moving on the <br /> sale of their property,noting the family does not want to prosecute but wants to work with the City to try <br /> to rectify the situation as it is an eyesore. <br /> Chair McCutcheon closed the public hearing at 6:38 p.m. <br /> Ressler asked Barnhart if the text amendment proposed is in reference to considering boats, cars, etcetera, <br /> on soft storage to be counted as hardcover. <br /> Barnhart replied right now the extended parking of vehicles transfers that area into hardcover.This <br /> ordinance says if someone is going to store vehicles they must store them on approved hardcover(asphalt, <br /> concrete,gravel). <br /> Ressler clarified it is making it unlawful to store said vehicles unless it is on hardcover. <br /> Barnhart replied in the affirmative. <br /> Chair McCutcheon likes that it indirectly says if one has a smaller lot they will have a restriction on <br /> hardcover,therefore they will be less apt to store vehicles.To Bollis' point on the bigger lots, it will <br /> promote them to add hardcover and does the City want that impacting their lakes and runoff? <br /> Bollis asked if it were approved,how would it apply to existing non-conformities such as the example the <br /> gentleman just explained about the next door neighbors. <br /> Barnhart replied this ordinance will not help him as most of those vehicles are parked on hard surface <br /> such as gravel or concrete.The same rules apply, licensed and operable,so those three tests would still be <br /> met. He noted with any change to the Zoning Code people would be grandfathered in but if someone <br /> moved that vehicle and brings it back it must be parked on hard surface. <br /> Peterson said from the two neighbors sharing their experiences with cars,those cars seem to be a much <br /> bigger issue and are giving the neighborhood a black eye.He would be sympathetic to someone who has <br /> Page 4 of 8 <br />