Laserfiche WebLink
MINUTES OF THE <br />ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING <br />Monday, June 16, 2014 <br />6:30 o’clock p.m. <br />_____________________________________________________________________________________ <br />  <br />Page 6 of 18  <br />  <br />Keane stated the current residential designation of the two lots serves as something of a buffer and that in <br />their view the City does have some control over the situation given the residential designation and the <br />conditional use permit if it is properly enforced. Keane stated in his view Commissioner Schoenzeit <br />asked the $64,000 question of what became broke that now requires fixing. <br /> <br />Keane stated dock locations should not drive a land use application and that moving the docks further to <br />the north will only increase the activity closer to the residential lots and encroaches on the enjoyment of <br />the property to the residential property owners. Keane stated the City should rely on the current zoning <br />and that the existing condition is one where there is already five pounds of sugar in a two-pound bag. <br />Keane stated allowing increased intensity and additional use on this site will only burden the surrounding <br />property owners and that he does not see any benefit to the adjacent property owners or the traveling <br />public on County Road 15. Keane stated the only benefit that will occur out of this is to the owners of the <br />marina who are requesting the rezoning, which is not a sufficient public purpose for driving the zoning <br />amendment. <br /> <br />Keane stated a question was also asked regarding the Comprehensive Plan Amendment. Keane stated the <br />City adopts the Comprehensive Plan and it is a legislative document. Any consideration of an <br />amendment to the Comprehensive Plan should be a predicate. Keane stated the zoning ordinance <br />implements the Comprehensive Plan and the Comprehensive Plan does not follow the City’s zoning <br />decisions but is the big overall picture. Keane stated those are policy decisions that are made by the <br />Planning Commission and implemented by the City Council. <br /> <br />Keane stated the City should implement the policies that have been adopted in the Comprehensive Plan <br />and that it is similar to the tail wagging the dog to suggest that the Comprehensive Plan Amendment is an <br />after-thought. Keane stated a Comprehensive Plan Amendment should not be an after-thought and that <br />there are regional consequences to these decisions that will impact the lake and the road as well as the <br />residential properties. <br /> <br />John Goodin, President of EOF Investments, stated he owns River Valley Power and Sports. Goodin <br />indicated he has been in operation at this site since the fall of 2012 with his retail operation. Goodin <br />stated for the record, he would like the Planning Commission to know that prior to River Valley signing <br />their lease in the fall of 2012, the largest marine dealer operated in this building for 12 years. Goodin <br />stated they are the absolutely largest dealer in the country and that they did significant more retail than <br />they do. Goodin noted at one time that retailer leased from Mr. Anderson until he sold the marina to a <br />different gentleman. <br /> <br />Goodin noted the boat club has been in operation at this site for four seasons and that in his view for the <br />most part it has operated fairly well. Goodin stated for the other 40 weeks out of the year, the site is <br />pretty quiet. Goodin stated he will admit that for approximately four weeks this spring the activity at the <br />marina was pretty intense given the weather, but that he has yet to hear or see a written complaint about <br />how the property is being used improperly or how the property looks. Goodin stated he is not aware that <br />they are doing anything wrong as the retailer. <br /> <br />Goodin stated in terms of parking, the boat club hired a valet service last year, which was a significant <br />improvement over 2011 and 2012. Goodin indicated he is not aware of any complaints, and that in his <br />view, if there were complaints, they were remedied rather quickly. Goodin stated based on the high water <br />levels currently, there will likely not be any real intensive use over the next couple of weeks. <br /> <br />Item #03 - PC Agenda - 07/21/2014 <br />Approval of Planning Commission Minutes 06/16/14 [Page 6 of 18]