06-23-2014 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL Monday, June 23, 2014 7:00 o’clock p.m. _____________________________________________________________________________________ Page 21 of 30 (8. 14-3666 LUKE KUJAWA ON BEHALF OF EOF INVESTMENTS, LLC, 1440-1442 SHORELINE DRIVE – REZONING, Continued) Johnson stated the use of the residential lots for overflow parking is one thing and that changing it to a 64-stall parking lot is another thing. Johnson stated they would like to prevent more of the marina coming closer to their residential property. Johnson indicated the Council needs to keep in mind that there are noises and lights associated with the boats and cars that come to the marina. Tim Keane, Attorney-at-Law, stated he did submit two letters to the City and that he appreciates the City Council reviewing those in advance. Keane stated the major issues have been touched on here tonight and that he will not belabor those, but that in his view there is already five pounds of sand in a two-pound bag. Keane stated this little piece of land is greatly overused based on the capacity of the roadway, parking, and the other indicators of good sound planning. Keane stated the buffer to the residential property is critical, and that when the discussion surrounding land use is stripped away, what it comes down to is the fact that the dock is not legal and the applicants would like to relocate it closer to the residential. Keane stated that creates the need to designate the residential properties commercial. The residential property owners to the north are concerned about the intrusion of additional parking and marina traffic. Keane stated he is not sure why the property owners had to impress upon the City the need for a Comprehensive Plan Amendment before residential property could be rezoned to commercial. Keane noted this application was sailing through until that point was driven home, and that in his view it is not the property owner’s requirement to bring that to the City’s attention. Rich Anderson, North Shore Marina, stated he owns six pieces of property in Orono, and the reason that he is upset is because at the Planning Commission meeting when they were discussing rezoning a piece of property next to a marina to commercial, Commissioner Thiesse made the comment that he wants to make sure that Richie Anderson cannot be allowed to do this. Anderson stated as it relates to the parking easements, the reason for that easement is because at the time M.G. Kominisky purchased the property, he decided to take out 1440 and 1442 and keep them residential in order to construct a townhome. Anderson stated previous to that it was one site. Anderson stated in order to protect the docks, an easement was put across the property in 2007 or thereabouts. Anderson noted the easement has not always been in place for those docks and that Thrivent Corporation requested the easement. Anderson stated when he owned those parcels in 2007, he had a renter in both 1440 and 1442 and that it has not always been used for commercial. Anderson stated he also did not store any boats on the residential lots in the wintertime. Anderson stated if it is rezoned to commercial, it is likely there will be boats also stored on the property and that the B-2 zoning probably came about not that long ago. Anderson stated the City also shut down a clubhouse that was constructed by Jim Rivers, which is now the gazebo. Anderson stated Your Boat Club operates out of that gazebo. Anderson asked if Mr. Gaffron is in agreement with what he has said. Gaffron stated he does not agree with a lot of what Mr. Anderson is saying.