05-19-2023 Planning Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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Cily ofOnmo Plmmg Comnission May 13,2003 Pagc2 Orooo has a nch history as horse country, and it was this tradition and history upon njich we based our decision to purchase this property. While our three horses rc stabled in Del^ another one in Buflalo, 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.' ____permitted to improve the muddy path to permit pasture of our horses, our purpose^ purchasing the property will be frustrated. More significantly, however, an m^propnately strict application of standards to preclude this permitted hi.storic use will reprint 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, we 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. 1 hey 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) Wntrrsbed Dbtrict The Watershed District represCTlativc 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 requircroenu of the Watershed District. (Please note that the greatest amount of “construction" is the digging to create new wetland, which would be double the si/c of the path to be topped olT. In effect, wc arc creating more wetland than we arc nffecling.) We also wish to address some of the clear misunderstandings expressed in written inatcnals submitted by others who neither appeared at the initial hearing nor contacted us to i^iain accurate information. From what we can tell, one letter writer has little or no view of the kmll due to tearing ireea. and is an extensive distanee from the hill. Another letter writer from Ramy Road has no view of our property whatsoever. A third letter seemed unaware of how little wc arc trying to do in repairing our access. One concern centered on setting a ^ec^t 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 permitted use. The letter writer does not seem to understand that horses, being “prey" animals, coexist peacefully with wildlife.