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MINUTES OF THE <br /> ORONO CITY COUNCII,MEETING <br /> Monday,February 13,2017 <br /> 7:00 o'clock p.m. <br /> brush,telephone poles, fences,and large boulders. Bieker stated during the construction of the <br /> monuments,they thought it was a private driveway and therefore the setbacks would not be applicable. <br /> Bieker stated they were informed the monuments were too close to the road after the as-built survey was <br /> submitted. <br /> Bieker noted the property line goes almost to the center off the private road and the pavement actually <br /> gets wider in that area. Bieker stated people tend to stay further away from the monuments than what it <br /> appears from the photographs. <br /> Bieker stated he is here to talk about the intent of the ordinance. In Planning StafPs report and in the <br /> proposed resolution it talks about accepting variances that are in harmony with the general purpose or <br /> intent of the ordinance. Two items that were pointed out was that they are attempting to maintain a clear <br /> zone off the roadway to preserve visibility through the roadway and to allow for snow removal, snow <br /> storage,and maintenance of the road. Bieker stated as the Council can see from the pictures,there has <br /> been no problem with winter maintenance of the road,which is done by the homeowners and not the City. <br /> There also was not an issue with snow removal from the Andersen's property. <br /> Bieker stated the monuments are also lit,which has been helpful to the people who tend to walk along the <br /> roadway. Bieker noted people cannot park on the street and that it is literally wide enough for one car to <br /> go down. Because this lot was vacant for a number of years,people started to use this property as a place <br /> to pull off onto in order to get out of the way of another oncoming car. As a result,people are now <br /> driving into Mr. Andersen's property and onto his landscaping. <br /> Bieker stated the monuments help in several different ways and that they do not feel the monuments are <br /> going against the intent of the ordinance. Bieker stated if this was a busy city street and being maintained <br /> by the City,he could see some concern,but that in their view the mon�ments do not go against the <br /> ordinance. Bieker stated for those reasons he would ask the City Council to consider allowing the <br /> monuments to stay. <br /> Bieker stated had they been informed during the permitting process and turning in their surveys,they <br /> would have placed them in a different location. Bieker noted the house is very close to the road due to the <br /> wetlands on the property and the configuration of the septic system. In addition,anybody who visits the <br /> property has to park in the driveway since there is no on-street parking. <br /> Andersen stated the residents are responsible for the snow removal on the road and that he has talked to <br /> the contractor and the monuments have caused no issues. Andersen indicated he also spoke with the <br /> trash/recycling contractor and he has not had any problems. Andersen noted the road is wider in that <br /> section by the monuments and that other people on the roadway have boulders and monuments and trees <br /> within ten feet of the road. Andersen stated his monuments are lit and helps the people who are walking <br /> down to the park. Andersen stated from a safety standpoint,the monuments are an improvement. <br /> Andersen stated he also has a neighbor who provided a letter in support of the monuments. Andersen <br /> commented they are not trying to do something after the fact but that they were trying to do something <br /> that looked nice and improve the safety in the area. <br /> Bieker stated the neighbor who submitted a letter opposing the monuments has now submitted a letter in <br /> support of the monuments. <br /> Page 8 of 18 <br />