05-23-2016 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, May 23, 2016 7:00 o'clock p.m. 6. 16-3832 CITY OF ORONO, VARIANCE, PUBLIC HEARING (continued) As a result, the wildlife will not have a place to live and will not have a path to travel through the area. Milianta stated it is not just the deer and the fox but that she sees deer, fox, squirrels, bunnies, turkeys, raccoons, and all kinds of birds. In the winter there are coyotes that travel across the lake and through that property. Milianta stated if that area is fenced in, those animals will not be able to get through there. Milianta stated Sue's main thing was love for animals, which is why she did not want to see development, and that she wanted a place for the wildlife to live. Milianta stated by erecting the fence, the animals will be routed down along the road and there will be a lot more dead animals. Milianta stated a dog park is totally against the original intent of the property by erecting the fence and that the original covenants say the property shall be preserved and used only as natural paths of an environmental park. The City shall create a plan for the park that reflects the passive character of the park and the City shall provide improvements as set out in the Park Plan, which included a picnic table, property hiking, trails, and the parking lot. Milianta stated fencing this area in and allowing dogs to run through there goes against hat Susan Lurton's original intent was, and that she is curious to know why the family wanted to make that change. Milianta stated that park is used even though you may not see a lot of cars there. Milianta stated it is a different kind of park than the other parks in the area. It is a place where people can go and meet in the open area by the picnic table, but when you step into the woods, it is immediately peaceful and quiet. Milianta stated one or two people will walk at a time but that there are not big groups of people camping and being loud. The park is mainly used in the spring and fall. Milianta stated she lives behind the park and sees people using it and that she is not sure how the Park Commission researched it or how they determined it was underutilized. Milianta stated she is very much against the variances. Laurel MacLachlan, 3565 Sixth Avenue North, asked what impact studies the City has done regarding the wildlife and other items. MacLachlan stated it is her understanding that Orono has approved some higher density properties in the area, so the likelihood of that park getting used more is high. MacLachlan noted a lot of the Orono properties consist of two to five acres. MacLachlan stated she has dogs herself and that she would not specifically take them to that dog park because they can run all they want on her own property. MacLachlan stated that is why she is wondering who the City is targeting and whether they are truly targeting the citizens of Orono. MacLachlan questioned whether the City is doing this in an attempt to raise money by attracting dog owners from other areas to use the park. '_MacLachlan stated if the City wants to put dogs in the park, they can use a smaller area so other people can enjoy the paths and the picnic tables without being in the middle of a dog park. MacLachlan asked if Orono truly has a need for the largest dog park in the area given the fact that there are other dog parks in some of the nearby cities. MacLachlan stated she does not see that the citizens of Orono have a need for this large of a dog park. MacLachlan noted this park has not been there that long and that it takes people a while before they become aware that it is a park. MacLachlan stated people currently use the park and that it is a peaceful area. If it is turned into a dog park, it will no longer be peaceful. MacLachlan noted large dogs will be able to jump that 4 -foot fence. MacLachlan questioned what impact studies have been done and what the City's plan is for all the animals. MacLachlan stated the fence will limit access by the wildlife and that some of the animals will be scared off or hunted by the dogs. Page 13 of 23