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MINUTES OF THE <br /> ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION <br /> November 21,2022 <br /> 6:00 o'clock p.m. <br /> Mr.Johnson,Applicant,shared regarding Hattie Place that all utility providers were notified and the <br /> power line that comes down is overhead. There is also a manhole at the beginning of the driveway. He <br /> has been talking with the utility company about burying that power line to give more stability.Mr. <br /> Johnson understands that utility easements will run that entire length of the property and clarified none of <br /> the other vacation requests has a utility on them.He stated they did not request vacation of the southern <br /> portion which the other neighbors all received. <br /> Libby asked Mr.Johnson about the old garage that encroaches on the easement and if that would remedy <br /> it. <br /> Mr.Johnson replied it would remedy it as it puts the garage in compliance. He was looking at remodeling <br /> the rambler for his parents and would not be able to attach a garage on that property because of the <br /> easement which runs right up next to the house. It cleans up the fact that the City allowed that garage <br /> there and it would get rid of the non-conformity. <br /> Libby thinks it is very important for people to speak their mind during public comments.He thinks it is <br /> unfortunate when they take time with hearsay and conjecture that is not empirically based in fact. Libby <br /> has been a real estate broker for 35 years and during Covid when they did not have the ability to register <br /> deeds the deputy registrars were months behind. He clarified when one is not seeing a deed filing it is <br /> because they are still catching up from being months behind during Covid.He believes it was a wrong <br /> pursuit to try to discredit another property owner in Orono because one could not find the deed as it was <br /> not the property owner's fault. <br /> Ressler summarized he is in support of the vacation due to precedence and does not see a way that it <br /> would be suitable for the City's public use without substantial investment in some sort of imminent <br /> domain because it is landlocked. If there is an amount of money to be exchanged and settled upon,he is <br /> fine with that and thinks that is reasonable but he is not qualified to determine how much that would be. <br /> Utilities have been addressed this evening and the easement will remain intact.Ressler would generally <br /> be in support as long as there are no rights being given up for the City to provide utility. This is the ability <br /> to clean up some parcels and supports the application as applied. <br /> Chair McCutcheon is in support of the yellow area and thinks there is a sticking point on the orange area. <br /> Kraemer thinks Ressler said it well. <br /> Ressler moved,Kraemer seconded,to approve LA22-0000.50, 1003 Wildhurst Trail as applied. <br /> VOTE: Ayes: 4,Nays 0. <br /> 2. LA22-000051 PAUL TAUNTON,3600 IVY PLACE,REQUESTS AFTER-THE-FACT <br /> VARIANCE APPROVAL FOR HARDCOVER WITHIN THE 75-FOOT SETBACK FOR <br /> A PARKING AREA. <br /> City Planner Curtis gave a presentation on the item, stating the Applicant is requesting after-the-fact <br /> approval of variances for hardcover within the 75 foot setback. In September,the City received and <br /> confirmed a complaint regarding a new parking area under construction on the property. The property <br /> owner installed an approximate 1,100 square foot paver parking area within the 75 foot setback connected <br /> to the existing driveway. Upon review, Staff noted two additional unapproved patio improvements on the <br /> Page 7 of 13 <br />