06-19-2000 Planning Commission Minutes

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION JUNE 19,2000 • (#2589 WOODHILL COUNTRY CLUB, CONTINUED) Club needs to take steps to insure that the gate is closed properly. Jackson suggested the police patrol that area periodically to see whether the gate is indeed closed at 8:00 p.m. Jackson stated the police could check randomly or routinely. Weinberger stated Staff will check with the police chief to see whether that would be possible. Jackson stated the Club has taken steps to insure that the gate is closed. Smith inquired whether the Club would have some way of documenting when and by whom the gate is closed. Jackson stated it currently is not documented when the gate is closed. Jackson stated the gate is locked with a padlock, which prevents someone from opening the gate once it is closed. The manager of Woodhill Country Club indicated since they have been monitoring the gate, not one car has left through the gate after 8:00 p.m. Storch acknowledged that the Club has gotten better with locking the gate but only after a number of complaints. • Hawn stated she would like to have the parties work together in order to resolve this issue, noting in her opinion this is a reasonable and appropriate application. Hawn stated the City does have an obligation to Mrs. Storch to try to resolve this issue in some way. Smith commented in her opinion this application does create the presumption that the road may be used a little more than currently, but if a current problem exists with the road,then action on this application may suggest that the City is not taking any steps to resolve the issues relating to the road but may be adding to them. Smith stated that a solution may be as simple as requiring a few extra performance standards before action by the City Council. Smith remarked that perhaps the Applicant could suggest some additional steps that could be taken in order to insure proper closure of the gate. Nygard commented he understands the concerns of the neighborhood, but that this application is not directly related to the problems surrounding the use of the road. Nygard stated if traffic is going down this road the wrong way,the simpliest solution would be to install stop gates on the road where they puncture someone's tire if they are going the wrong way down the road. Nygard stated he would feel more comfortable voting on this issue if some conditions were added regarding use of the road. Nygard suggested that a punch card system be utilized which would show the exact time the gate is closed every night. Hawn stated the Planning Commission needs to give some direction to Woodhill Country Club onwhat steps they should take to help resolve this issue. Hawn stated if the gate is closed,then people should not be able to use that road. • Weinberger stated when the Conditional Use Permit was granted two years ago by the City Council, PAGE 12