Laserfiche WebLink
MINUTES OF THE <br />ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING <br />Monday, July 11, 2016 <br />7:00 o’clock p.m. <br />_____________________________________________________________________________________ <br /> <br />Page 7 of 25 <br /> <br />7. LURTON PARK (continued) <br /> <br />Tom Sawyer, 3405 County Road 6, stated he is here in support of his neighbors’ request for a larger <br />setback since they will be living with the dog park 24/7. Sawyer commented he is a dog owner and that <br />he uses the dog park by Lake of the Isles, which is much smaller and has a more intense use than this one <br />will have. Sawyer stated users of the park will likely not notice there is less space but the neighbors will <br />and that he is asking the Council to honor their request. <br /> <br />Sawyer stated one of his concerns relates to hours of operation and that there will be some barking and <br />other noises created, such as from owners calling their dogs. Sawyer indicated he goes to bed early and <br />that he would like some assurance that there will not be any noise from the park after 9 p.m. Sawyer <br />stated the other issue is potential lighting and that he would prefer that not happen. Sawyer noted he did <br />not hear anything of that nature discussed so far. <br /> <br />Sawyer stated it appears to be a good plan but that he does not see the need for forcing the dog park up <br />towards someone’s property line when it can easily be moved back without any expense to the City or the <br />users of the park. Sawyer stated in his view it would be the right thing to do. <br /> <br />John Thiesse, Planning Commission Chair, noted this application was before the Planning Commission at <br />their June meeting and that at no time during their discussion was it their intent to disparage the Park <br />Commission. Thiesse stated he would like to thank and commend them for their work on behalf of the <br />City. <br /> <br />Meyers stated he would like to get the dog park built, and that if moving the northern border makes <br />people happy, in his view that can happen. Meyers stated pushing the fence further west would also <br />shrink the dog park down. <br /> <br />Meyers asked if the Mayor is proposing to move the fence back behind the purple line. <br /> <br />McMillan stated that is correct. <br /> <br />Edwards pointed out the 150-foot setback is measured from the ordinary high water level and not <br />necessarily where the water is. Edwards indicated the actual shoreline is another 300 to 400 feet from <br />that. <br /> <br />McMillan noted Lake Classen is considered an environmental lake, which is the reason for the larger <br />setback. <br /> <br />Meyers noted this will be a fence and not a structure within the setback and that if the City can grant the <br />variance, it would be a good compromise. <br /> <br />McMillan asked how the Park Commission would feel about putting together some operational details. <br /> <br />Meyers indicated he is fine with that. Meyers stated the Park Commission has a workshop coming up in <br />August and that they could add that to the agenda. <br /> <br />McMillan stated she would like to see something in writing for how things are envisioned to happen in <br />the future such as hours of operation, lighting, etc.