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MINUTES OF THE <br /> ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING <br /> Monday,April 17,2017 <br /> 6:30 o'clock p.m. <br /> Jones stated if the City does not have the information or the data to suggest why this is a good idea to <br /> change, then why change it. Jones stated there could be a lot of unknowns and that there may have been <br /> other influences that changed the wetland that had nothing to do with buffers and watershed issues. If <br /> there is nothing that suggests that this is a good idea to do other than simply changing it,perhaps opening <br /> it up for more discussion is more appropriate than approving it at 11:30 at night. <br /> Thiesse closed the public hearing at 11:30 p.m. <br /> Olson stated in his view the potential impact is too great to change it and that it might not be worth it to <br /> change the buffer. Olson commented Orono has a very local decision making capacity here and they <br /> should utilize that. Olson stated in his view there is some way to streamline things and that a fire pit or a <br /> sports court could be a variance situation since there could be some practical difficulty associated with <br /> those situations. Olson stated he does not feel it is worth changing the buffers due to the potential <br /> environmental impacts and that it could be taking a step back. <br /> Leskinen and Lemke indicated they are in agreement with Commissioner Olson. <br /> Olson asked what the Planning Commission can do if it wants to do something with delineations. <br /> Barnhart stated wetland delineations are an issue and that Options 2 and 3 only relate to the buffers. <br /> Barnhart stated he is hearing from the Planning Commission that they should move the draft ordinance <br /> forward with the recommended changes on the wetland delineations as proposed by Staff and to utilize <br /> Option 1 relative to the buffers. <br /> Thiesse stated he is not sure if Option 1 is exactly what they want. Thiesse indicated he likes Option 1 <br /> but in his view there could be some leniency put in there. <br /> Barnhart stated what he would recommend is that the Planning Commission put forth a recommendation <br /> on the wetland delineation as proposed and make no changes to the wetland buffer but that if the City <br /> Council would like to make changes to the buffer,they could recommend that the Council remand it back <br /> to the Planning Commission for further public input. <br /> Page 64 of 72 <br />