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MINUTES OF THE <br /> ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION <br /> April 17,2023 <br /> 6:00 o'clock p.m. <br /> There is a lot of paving on the property right now. So we're reducing that and replacing it with green <br /> space. <br /> Libby asked if the applicant had discussed the changes with the immediate adjoining neighbors. <br /> Mr. Demeules said his client has been in contact with them but both are out of town for the winter and <br /> were not comfortable signing any support of it until they were able to see the property in person this <br /> spring. <br /> Chair Bollis opened the public hearing at 7:16 p.m. <br /> Bruce Lee. 740 Tonkawa, said he and his wife own the property to the north. We have a shared driveway <br /> easement that would be completely encroached upon if this retaining wall goes up the way it's proposed. <br /> That's a mutually-shared easement. It looks like we still would have access to my property,however, <br /> when we back out of my garage,we back into that northerly easterly portion of that easement. So we're <br /> going to be greatly affected by a wide garage and then a retaining wall that chews up probably two thirds <br /> of that easement. He said the driveway does come down at a steep angle.And a lot of that top angle is the <br /> only way to get to my property I don't have access because of that eight-foot drop directly into my <br /> driveway. <br /> Karen Weathers,750 Tonkawa,the property to the south, said we've got no issues with it. We've not <br /> talked to them. But looks like it's conforming from our point of view,and we don't have any issues. <br /> Chair Bollis closed the public hearing at 7:20 p.m. <br /> Bollis asked if there had been any analysis done on the easement by staff. <br /> Nye said staff was not aware of it and thought the neighbor still had adequate access to their property. <br /> They are just learning it would impact their turn-around. <br /> Kirchner said it appears there is an easement there and I would struggle to support something that would <br /> encroach upon an easement. <br /> Todd Irvine,Keenan and Sveiven,the applicant's landscape architect and contractor on the project, said if <br /> there needs to be additional pavement left in the lower right-hand corner of the easement area for backout <br /> space we could certainly look at doing that. <br /> McCutcheon noted the elevation drop and asked if any consideration had been given to rotating the <br /> garage 90 degrees so that instead of backing out into the street they would be backing out into the other <br /> neighbor's driveway..I don't know if there's enough room. <br /> Mr. Demeules said it was considered but would have required pushing the garage to the north side.Again, <br /> there's a lot of great change there. So what we would have had to do is push the garage to the north side <br /> Page 8 of 12 <br />