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MINUTES OF THE ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION <br />Wednesday, January 17, 2001 <br />(#2550 Charles Van Eeckhout, Continued) <br />which has been resolved this past November, 2000, and access into the property. Weinberger stated <br />the main obstacle to gaining access to this property is the fact that the property in which the proposed <br />road would be located is owned by John Dunn and not the Applicant. The Applicant has had a <br />driveway easement over that area for perhaps the past 40 years, which has provided access to one 20 <br />acre site. <br />The City Attorney has reviewed the easement document, and it is his opinion that a driveway <br />access did not imply that a road could be constrncted in the easement to service additional lots. <br />Currently the driveway services two lots in this area. At the time a third driveway is added to this <br />access, the road would need to be upgraded to City standards. <br />Weinberger stated the Applicant is looking for some direction from the Planning Commission on <br />whether they feel this is a good concept plan and should proceed forward with access negotiations <br />with the property owner to the north. Weinberger stated this proposed plan does address many of the <br />concerns the Planning Commission and City Council have had with the other prior proposals. <br />Van Eeckhout indicated this is the plan ofrecord before the City, which was approved by the City <br />Council at its November 11 th meeting, with the message that if Long Lake approves the access, the <br />City of Orono would approve this plan. Van Eeckhout stated at the December ls1h meeting the City <br />Council reversed itself and voted 5 to O to prepare a resolution of denial due to issues relating to <br />access off of Apple Glen Road. <br />Van Eeckhout stated another plan he had proposed calling for seven lots was denied due to the <br />small lot sizes, which has resulted in a number of different revisions in the plan. Van Eeckhout <br />noted the two main issues relating to this development have primarily focused on access and <br />the amount of wetlands on the property. <br />Van Eeckhout stated he does have legal access off of Apple Glen Road according to the Attorney <br />General's Office, but due to the concerns expressed by the citizens of Long Lake, he is attempting <br />to gain access to this development off of Brown Road. Van Eeckhout noted the Long Lake Planning <br />Commission recently tabled his application. Van Eeckhout indicated he would prefer access off of <br />Brown Road rather than have access disputed by the citizens of Long Lake. <br />Van Eeckhout stated in an effort to move forward, he has contacted John Dunn, who indicated he <br />would be agreeable to submit to binding arbitration. Eeckhout indicated he has made three offers <br />to Dunn in the past, who has returned all three offers unsigned. Eeckhout stated he has not received <br />any offer back from Dunn regarding access. Eeckhout stated he would like to pursue binding <br />arbitration on the issue of access. <br />Van Eeckhout stated he is looking for guidance on whether the layout before the Planning <br />Commission is acceptable. Van Eeckhout stated this plan is predicated on access off of Brown Road. <br />Mabutsh inquired whether this development would be hooked up to City sewer. <br />Van Eeckhout stated it has been recommended that this property be hooked up to City sewer due <br />to the sensitive environment issues that exist, and that there is the capacity to be hooked up to the <br />PAGE 14