06-23-2003 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

City of Orono Planning Commission May 13,2003 Page 2 Orono has a rich history as horse country, and it was this tradition and history upon which we based our decision to purchase this property. While our three horses are stabled in Delano another one in Buffalo, it has been our intention to pasture our horses on the grassy knoll on our Orono property, intermittently but especially prior to weekend horse activities to save us hours of transit time.' If we are not permitted to improve the muddy path to permit pasture of our horses, our purpose for purchasing the property will be frustrated. More significantly, however, an inappropriately strict application of standards to preclude this permitted historic use will represent a continuation of the degradation of this rich Orono tradition and a departure from the city plan calling for maintaining Orono’s rural character. Since this matter was tabled by the Commission, .ve have had the opportunity to find answers to various questions raised by the Commission. Specifically: (1) DNR The DNR staff has resurveyed the access path and determined that the path is above the high water mark of French Lake and a DNR permit is not required. They have determined that the path is 12 feet wide and lies entirely above the high water mark. The DNR representative reported that the DNR therefore has no jurisdiction or objection. (2) Watenhed District The Watershed District representative has inspected the site. Based on that inspection, the Watershed District proposes adding a topping to rehabilitate the present access and mitigation. The attached drawings set out the necessary rehabilitation plan and mitigation, which we understand meet the expressed requirements of the Watershed District. (Please note that the greatest amount of “construction" is the digging to create new wetland, which would be double the size of the path to be topped off. In effect, we are creating more wetland than we are affecting.) We also wish to address some of the clear misunderstandings expressed in written materials submitted by others who neither appeared at the initial hearing nor contacted us to obtain accurate information. From what we can tell, one letter writer has little or no view of the knoll due to leafing trees, and is an extensive distance from the hill. Another letter writer from Rainy Road has no view of our property whatsoever. A third letter seemed unaware of how little we are trying to do in repairing our access. One concern centered on setting a precedent but failed to account for the fact that the reasons for the variance are specific to this knoll and our ability to use it safely for a I'crmitted use. The letter writer does not seem to understand that horses, being “prey" animals, coexist peacefully with wildlife. ' Hones need protection. They frighten easily and run when they do. We need the ability to safely bring them onto the hill in an enclosed space. For security and other reasons they should be located away from the driveways and road. Our use of horses is low impact and docs nut involve commercial purposes. 'i jj