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MINUTES OF THE ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION Tuesday, February 19, 2002 6:30 o'clock p.m. (#02-2749 Thomas Egan, Continued) Gaffron inquired whether the residents were surprised after the survey was done in terms of the actual location of the cabins in relation to lot lines. Egan stated before he purchased the property, a survey had been completed which showed the property as depicted on the new survey. Egan stated the surveyor is also the same on both surveys. Hawn inquired whether there was further public comment regarding this application. Egan stated Rick Hanson, 340 Big Island, had to leave the meeting, but requested that the vacation be taken all the way to the edge of the road and up the adjacent road. Hawn stated she has one reservation regarding this. Hawn stated there may come a time in the future when some members of the general public would like to walk on Big Island, and if this easement is vacated, they would no longer have that right. Hawn stated the Planning Commission should discuss preserving the right of pedestrians to walk somewhere in this area. Egan asked if public meant landowners in the area. Hawn stated she means any person. Egan stated the landowners in the area do not want members of the general public walking around Big Island, noting some of the roads have been closed to prevent people from walking around their cabins in the wintertime and summertime. Egan stated he is unsure what the intent of the platted roads were at the time they were originally platted, but that the property owners would prefer that members of the general public not walk through their properties on Big Island. Hawn noted they are public roads, and if they are vacated, the general public would not be allowed to access certain parts of Big Island. Egan stated the public has not been able to use that road since approximately 1960, when the cabin was originally built. Hawn stated theoretically the public has the right to use that right-of-way. Hawn stated she would like the Planning Commission to look at ways to preserve the public's right to walk in that area. Egan stated there is a road located behind the cabin that touches every one of the lots, so there would still be access available to the general public. Egan stated in his view those platted roads were not designed to allow members of the general public access to every lot of the island but rather were designed to allow the property owners the ability to travel around the island. Hawn stated all public roads in Orono are open to the general public. Egan stated since these are not developed roads and are difficult to recognize, he personally would not be comfortable with the general public walking around Big Island. PAGE27