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MINUTES OF THE <br /> ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION <br /> November 21,2022 <br /> 6:00 o'clock p.m. <br /> ever be provided for this parcel. In the handout it says"dense vegetation, steep topography, shallow water <br /> depths,undesirable lake bottoms"all in description of this particular parcel. He thinks it is relevant and <br /> prudent to ask the Applicant what his intended use is and Ressler did ask that as it could potentially be a <br /> condition as it goes to the City Council.Ressler does not find the 10 acre parcel to be particularly relevant <br /> as any landowner can develop within the guidelines of what is afforded.Regarding access,there are many <br /> other places that will be utilized by the fire department before this would be in putting out a fire. <br /> Candidly, if the fire department needs to utilize any water on the lake they will go on private property to <br /> do so to put the fire out. Ressler would be in support of this vacation for the same reasons he was <br /> supportive of the other vacation he spoke of. <br /> Libby thanked the citizens that spoke up.He also noted they are dealing with private,residential sales <br /> between individuals and they are here to discuss the vacation of the right-of-ways,not the private <br /> property ownership of larger portions of the lot. There are methodologies and negotiations between the <br /> owner and the City that can remediate some of the objections,such as the utility easements which can be <br /> carried over. He noted facing the Applicant is a gauntlet of scrutiny,approvals,engineering,and they will <br /> not be able to willy-nilly acquire these easements and then do whatever they want.The City has a very <br /> well-written 2040 Comp Plan that addresses many of the issues that citizens tonight have expressed. <br /> Libby shared a concern as he sees a private property ownership in between any access to the marsh that <br /> would potentially be an access to the lake. The snowmobiling that is happening there should be done with <br /> privileged permission from the property owners that have a sliver of a lot between one of these vacated <br /> portions and the marsh.Libby does not disfavor the conditional approval by Staff and thinks it is <br /> somewhat prudent.In the case of Hattie Place,he feels it could be remediated or negotiated between the <br /> vacation and the Applicant. <br /> Kraemer thinks Ms. Curtis did a great job of presenting the item. When he hears the term"precedent"it is <br /> pretty powerful and the City has done this in other places.He is in support. <br /> Chair McCutcheon noted no one really has access to the lake unless they go across private property. <br /> Regarding the narrow lanes through the lots,he thinks there is an opportunity to fix them.He does see a <br /> need regarding Hattie Place to provide utility which he believes Staff recommended. Chair McCutcheon <br /> thinks a garage is on that property and asked the Commissioners if they are in favor of all the vacations or <br /> some that should remain. <br /> Libby said in the packet it states the Applicant has proposed maintaining utility easements. <br /> Curtis showed an image on screen,noting Staff recommends vacation of the yellow areas, and are <br /> recommending the brown areas be maintained as right-of-way. <br /> Ressler thinks before it goes to the City Council, some research should be done regarding future intent of <br /> using that for utilities. If there is no future intent of turning that into a public access,Ressler does not have <br /> opposition to it. He would be in support of maintaining that public right-of-way if there is intention of <br /> future use.He cautions tabling the item as he is not sure it would change the Commissioners' opinions <br /> besides comments that have been made. <br /> Curtis replied there are utilities in the Hattie Place right-of-way now, including an overhead powerline <br /> and a sewer line. It would maintain the easement while vacating the land. <br /> Chair McCutcheon is in favor noting the yellow areas seem to make it cleaner. <br /> Page 6 of 13 <br />