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MINUTES OF THE <br /> ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION <br /> Tuesday,February 19,2002 <br /> 6:30 o'clock p.m. <br /> (#02-2749 Thomas Egan,Continued) <br /> Hawn stated at the current time they possibly are not easily recognizable by the general public,but the <br /> question is whether they are taking away someone's right to have access to certain parts of the island in <br /> the future. <br /> Kluth commented if the right-of-way is vacated, it would no longer be public land. <br /> Egan stated vacation of this right-of-way would not affect access to any of the individual lots. <br /> Rahn stated the reality is that the Applicant's situation will probably not change whether the road is <br /> vacated or not,but that the Planning Commission needs to look at whether they are denying access to <br /> the general public if the vacation is approved. <br /> Gaffron suggested in exchange for this vacation that the City request a strip of land to the lake. Gaffron <br /> noted the road corridor stops 20 feet from the lakeshore, and that this might be an ideal place to request <br /> a dedication of land to the shoreline. <br /> Egan stated he does not own that piece of land, and that is it his understanding that piece of land is tied <br /> up in a lease. <br /> Gaffron commented this area of land might have been intended as a swimming beach at the time it was <br /> platted. <br /> Hawn reiterated that the Planning Commission has to insure that the general public has access to <br /> Big Island. <br /> Egan stated in his view there might be a problem with granting that piece of land to the shoreline,and <br /> that the public can use Lakeview Avenue. Egan stated he is unable to obtain a mortgage on this cabin <br /> because it is located in the right-of-way, and that in his view it would not be a problem for the City to <br /> vacate that right-of-way,noting that it is usable at this point for a road or a pedestrian trail. Egan stated <br /> the road has not been utilized for a significant number of years. <br /> Kluth recommended that this right-of-way not be vacated since they are unable to know what future use <br /> this piece of land might be needed for and that the City needs to preserve the right to use that piece of <br /> land. <br /> Hawn stated she would be in favor of vacating the right-of-way if an alternative is provided. <br /> Egan commented the general public can still access Lakeview, which is a used pathway and does <br /> contain utility lines. Egan stated Lakeview also has vehicular traffic. Egan commented these are <br /> seasonal cabins and that most of the platted roads on Big Island are unrecognizable by the general <br /> public. <br /> Hawn stated the Planning Commission needs to protect access on Big Island for use in the future. <br /> Kluth agreed with Hawn. <br /> PAGE 28 <br />