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MINUTES OF THE <br /> ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING <br /> Monday,July 17, 2017 <br /> 6:30 o'clock p.m. <br /> Schoenzeit asked if that reported situation is still compatible as far as material and size. <br /> Barnhart indicated it is. <br /> Thiesse asked if it is the City's intent to create an ordinance and then only enforce it when there is a <br /> complaint. <br /> Barnhart stated it is Staffs responsibility to adequately and accurately communicate the goals of the <br /> ordinance to the residents and that Staff generally does not have the time to inspect people's properties for <br /> possible violations. If the ordinance does not do what the Planning Commission envisioned,now is the <br /> time to change it. <br /> Landgraver stated he is not interpreting this as overreaching because the City was attempting to <br /> accommodate flexibility and expandability and everybody was doing something that is tolerated. <br /> Landgraver stated Staff is realistically not going to go out to these lots and tell them they have to remove <br /> it. <br /> Barnhart stated the original goal with the ordinance was to address non-encroachments and to allow <br /> modest, small improvements since they cause little harm. From a Staff perspective, the current ordinance <br /> allows these small encroachments. Barnhart stated he is here tonight to ask if there is a desire to make <br /> any changes to the code to exclude the lake yard from these encroachments. It is Staffs belief that <br /> currently that is included in the ordinance. <br /> Landgraver stated as long as the structure is under two feet, there are no other size restrictions. <br /> Thiesse noted fire pits can only be three feet round. <br /> Chair Thiesse opened the public hearing at 8:57 p.m. <br /> There were no public comments regarding this application. <br /> Chair Thiesse closed the public hearing at p.m. <br /> Leskinen stated a raised bed would be lawful on a nonlakeshore and that she is struggling with the fact <br /> that there could be someone who lives on a lakeshore and wants to do the same thing but they would not <br /> be allowed. Leskinen noted the City has other restrictions within the lake yard, such as the 75-foot <br /> setback,and that in her view there is no reason to impose further restrictions since the current restrictions <br /> help keep it in check. <br /> Schoenzeit stated perhaps the City needs X number of complaints to have it rise to the level of a text <br /> amendment. <br /> Barnhart stated there will be other situations where someone will exploit the ordinance and create an <br /> issue. Barnhart stated an example of a situation would be where someone has a planting bed and then <br /> edged that with rocks. Barnhart stated he is worried about having to tell someone that they cannot line <br /> their planting bed with rocks when other people have stones in their lake yard. Another situation is where <br /> someone has a play structure in the lake yard,which is not allowed. Barnhart stated anything lined by <br /> hardcover would not be allowed if the ordinance is changed specifically to limit those. <br /> Page 18 of 20 <br />