05-23-2016 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, May 23, 2016 7:00 o'clock p.m. 6. 16-3532 CITY OF OROI\O, VARIANCE, PUBLIC HEARING McMillan stated she walked the park on Sunday, and asked whether the Park Commission considered having the small dog area to the right of the storm water pond. McMillan stated by relocating the small dog area, it would eliminate the need to have a fence within another fence. Meyers stated it might also take less fencing. McMillan stated then it would not look like a fence inside of a fence. Meyers stated the plan can be tinkered with but that the Park Commission would have to go back and view the property. Meyers stated it is nice for the dogs to have a woodland experience as well as the open area. Levang stated that area might also have some shade. Meyers stated the intent with the small dog park was to help preserve the prairie land. Edwards stated the subject before the City Council now is the variance request for the fence and that moving the small dog fence could be done if it is determined to be appropriate. Edwards indicated the feedback he received from the Council, the Park Commission, and the Lurton family was to preserve some of the prairie area. Edwards stated if that is not a concern, they can certainly redesign the fence. McMillan stated in her view it would be more attractive to have the small dog section off to the right. Meyers stated the Park Commission also formed a subcommittee prior to the Lurton approaching the City and that they researched dog parks in a number of the surrounding areas. The committee's research found that there is not excessive barking or other problems associated with a dog park. For people who wish to visit the park, they will need to go through a permitting process and pay a fee. Meyers noted Orono has 24 parks and that this park is underutilized. McMillan stated she would like to hear from the public and then send this application to the Planning Commission. Loftus stated she can provide the agreement the City has with the Lurtons amending the uses of the park, which was signed by someone representing the Lurton family and the Land Trust. Dianna Milianta, 3515 Sixth Avenue North, stated she would like to read some excerpts irom an article that appeared in the Lakeshore Weekly News published on October 31, 2011. The article talked about how, as an avid animal lover, Susan Lurton enjoyed seeing them in their natural element. The following is a quote from Phil Lurton, her husband: "We could see the property from our place and Sue did not want development over there on that property because it was beautiful and she looked across the lake at it all the time." Another quote from the article states that: "Sue's main thing was love for animal, said Bill. That was part of the reason why she didn't want to see development, because of the animals who lived in those areas, like deer and fox and whatever else we used to see. Milianta stated just five years ago the Lurton family was talking about how this park was made for the animals as Sue intended, but then the City decided to make a change and fence in the whole thing. Page 12 of 23