Laserfiche WebLink
MINUTES OF THE <br />ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING <br />August 28, 2023 <br />6:00 o’clock p.m. <br />_____________________________________________________________________________________ <br /> <br />Page 5 of 15 <br /> <br />Benson asked if this was planned as part of the building, why was this coming to the Council now. <br /> <br />Edwards said it is not part of the bonding but would be paid for by the water enterprise fund. <br /> <br />Benson asked if the impact on vendors drawing water when they are near a hydrant but now would have <br />to come up to public works with perhaps more trips necessary had been looked at. <br /> <br />Edwards said in most cases it would not have a significant impact, but it would affect vendors coming <br />from the Navarre area. The typical use is by landscapers, and they may come daily but they draw a large <br />amount of water at a time. The amount of traffic would only be about five vehicles on a busy day. He said <br />it would also control hours of operations. <br /> <br />Johnson moved, Crosby seconded, to approve the Bulk Water Filling Station. VOTE: Ayes 5, Nays <br />0. <br /> <br />COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT REPORT <br /> <br />15. RICK SCHIDEMAN, 4075 HIGHWOOD ROAD, ENCROACHMENT AGREEMENT <br /> <br />Community Development Director Laura Oakden said the request involved an existing boathouse. At the <br />March 13, 2023, meeting the property owner requested an encroachment agreement for a boathouse that <br />crosses over the property line. A portion of the existing structure is located in an unimproved right-of- <br />way. The owner hopes to obtain building permits for maintenance of the building like new siding and <br />roofing, but because the building is not located fully within his property, the City cannot issue building <br />permits for maintenance. At the March 13 Council meeting, Councilmember Johnson asked for clarity <br />regarding the landscaping and accessibility of the site, she said. City staff met with the applicant in May <br />to review the landscaping and improvements on the site. It appears that new arborvitae have been planted <br />within the right-of-way. Public Works confirmed that they still have reasonable access to the City <br />infrastructure around the landscaping. This lake access has not been identified for public access for <br />recreation. Park Department Staff was also present at the meeting and noted that there is an existing lake <br />access further along Highwood Road. The abutting neighbor on the other side of the lake access was <br />granted permission to install a driveway in this right of way. Granting the encroachment agreement will <br />allow the proper permits to be issued for maintenance of the existing structure. The City Engineer has <br />reviewed the request and noted the current right-of-way is being used for utilities and has storm sewer and <br />sanitary sewer infrastructure throughout. The current building does not appear to be in conflict with the <br />existing utility infrastructure. Oakden said she had identified a list of conditions for the property owner <br />and with those conditions, the staff recommends approval. <br /> <br />The applicant, Rick Schideman, said the only landscaping that had been done was to replace existing <br />landscaping that was there when they moved in. <br /> <br />Johnson said this is a two-parter with one side being an encroachment agreement. He said he is supportive <br />of making improvements as the applicants didn’t put the building there, but it is an improvement on City- <br />owned property. He said he had received complaints that the property owners on both sides had added <br />landscaping on City-owned property. He suggested the City put corner markers on their easements so <br />abutting property owners understand the location of City easements that people are using as access. There <br />have been other instances where the City had to make people remove improvements on City property, he <br />said. He said he supports working with this applicant to get their maintenance plans approved, but also