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MINUTES OF THE <br />ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION <br />Tuesday, March 15, 2021 <br />6:00 o’clock p.m. <br />_____________________________________________________________________________________ <br /> <br />to see because there is so little land in the City, it is important to preserve Big Island and to look 10-15 <br />years down the road and keep it that way. <br /> <br />Ted Hanna, 490 Big Island, said his parents have owned the property since 1968 and he got it about 10 <br />years ago. He would be a little concerned about having some access in the future. He lived over in <br />Greenwood until about a year ago so it was mostly just winter ski access for him with a tent platform and <br />a teepee. He noted it would be great to get out there and visit some more – they do not have a family cabin <br />which used to be on the south side of all this for years. He would ask that some kind of solution might be <br />figured out for some kind of dock access. He noted one comment mentioned a piece of land where Three <br />Rivers is – he asked if that would ever be up for imminent domain. <br /> <br />Curtis clarified the piece of land that is blocking the right-of-way continuation used to be all one little sliver. <br /> <br />Mr. Hanna sees that those pieces are now deeded to the adjacent landowners. <br /> <br />Curtis replied that is right and this one is owned by Three Rivers and they have declined – she believes one <br />of those reasons is the funding source that they used to purchase the property prohibits granting an easement <br />or selling it for any of those uses. <br /> <br />Mr. Hanna asked the Thulls if they have thought about using something down on that side. He noted he <br />may be in front of the Commission in the future to try to figure something out, as well. <br /> <br />Nancy Farnes, 230 Big Island, approached the podium with an eleventh-hour package she is delivering, but <br />she only brought five and can get more for the following day. She noted her property is directly affected <br />by this application. In the exhibits, she showed that it started off with 7 inside lots back in 1980-something. <br />This application is revoked and given to 484 Meadow because he transferred over about 4-5 different private <br />properties. It also adds five additional inside lots to the three that he says are remaining. So now they are <br />kind of over – going backwards – in 35 years, using this as a solution. Ms. Farnes feels that history dictates <br />there is just not lakeside for accommodation to 3 or 7 inside lots. Furthermore, they bought the cabin with <br />the value included at $45,000. If this is taken from them and revoked, that value in 35 years of maintenance, <br />taxes, appreciation, just tanked to possibly $20,000 with a property they cannot use. She noted they have <br />spent substantial time improving it, maintaining it, and in the last ten years they have endured several <br />emergency and physical health crises that have deferred them from enjoying the island as they always have <br />with three generations of family. During that time period, which they are still winding down, their kind <br />neighbors have allowed them to use their dock, have helped maintain the area, and in goodwill have even <br />cut the grass and maintained the permit without Ms. Farnes even asking. They have even offered to bring <br />the family out there as time has only allowed for them to go out about twice a year, and that is basically to <br />rake leaves, clean up inside and out, and go home. This is while everyone else is out in June and July on <br />the boat, in swimsuits, enjoying life. She sees an end to this in about a year or two and she finds this is the <br />first time in 35 years anybody has tossed out the words “revoke our permit” and it is very, very disturbing, <br />unsettling, and emotional. Ms. Farnes does not find any precedence to do that. Perhaps they revisit the <br />wording on the two existing permits so they do not have to go through this grueling, tumultuous, and <br />emotional process, because there just simply aren’t enough and everything has been exhausted, in her <br />opinion, by the City. She will happily work with Ms. Curtis and has boxes of records she can help assist <br />with for clarity to the recommendation of this Board, if necessary and required, if they still feel it warrants <br />a recommendation instead of a permanent solution. Ms. Farnes has one final thought: it is assessed at $165 <br />[$165,000?] with no lakeshore but the permit. The 480 application bought his property just ten years ago,