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MINUTES OF THE <br /> ORONO PLANNING COMNIISSION MEETING <br /> Monday,July 16,2012 <br />. � 6:30 o'clock p.m. <br /> Gaffron indicated Staff would need to verify that and asked the applicant if the fabric is 100 percent <br /> permeable. <br /> Schumer stated he provided Staff with a specification sheet on the fabric. <br /> Levang asked if the Planning Commission goes with the City's existing regulations,what the applicant's <br /> plan is. <br /> Schumer stated it would probably cost him as much to remove it as it did to put it down. Schumer stated <br /> the rock would have sunk into the ground without the fabric and that it is there for a reason. Schumer <br /> stated the permit that was issued did not include any of that fabric or the pond,which he was told by his <br /> old landscaper was included. Schumer stated he was not told about the denial of that part of the permit <br /> and that he assumed everything was okay. He found out about it when he wanted to put a pergola over <br /> the pavers in the back. Schumer indicated he did not know what to do after that. <br /> Levang noted when the applicant appeared last time,the applicant's attorney did most of the talking. <br /> Levang asked why he did not come forward sooner and why there has been so much back and forth <br /> between the City and himself. <br /> Schumer indicated he did not know what to do but figured he would have to do something about it <br /> eventually. <br /> Chair Schoenzeit opened the public hearing at 6:43 p.m. <br /> There were no public comments regarding this application. <br /> Chair Schoenzeit closed the public hearing at 6:43 p.m. <br /> Landgraver stated he does not know whether it is right for the Planning Commission to delay action on <br /> this matter since it is not known when the City Council will vote on the hardcover ordinance and that in <br /> his view the Planning Commission should make a decision on this application under the current <br />.' regulations. <br /> Thiesse stated he has difficulty with that in that the new regulations are for a reason,which is to protect <br /> the lake and the environment. The Planning Commission members all accept the fact that what he has is <br /> going to be acceptable at some point and that he has difficulty making him spend that kind of money to <br /> remove it given the fact that it is going to be acceptable to the environment once the new hardcover <br /> ordinance is adopted. <br /> Leskinen indicated she tends to agree with Commissioner Thiesse. Leskinen noted the bulk of the <br /> hardcover is the landscape fabric versus pavers or other solid items and that she is not opposed to waiting <br /> until the new ordinance is adopted. <br /> Levang stated she does not want to go down that path and that she would like to make a ruling on this <br /> application under the current regulations. The Planning Commission should take into consideration how <br /> long this has been going on and how much Staff time has been put into this application. The applicant <br /> ' does not have a good reason why he has not complied up to this point. This is an after-the-fact variance <br /> and the Planning Commission has an obligation to look at it in those terms. <br /> Page 3 <br />