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MINUTES OF THE <br /> ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING <br /> Tuesday,February 20,2018 <br /> 6:30 o'clock p.m. <br /> Craig stated his concern goes beyond the traffic,and that if the vacation is approved,there will be two <br /> more buildable lots in the area. <br /> Craig pointed out the lot that was unbuildable until three years. Craig stated all of a sudden it became a <br /> buildable lot and that he was not aware they were going to build on that site. Craig stated his concern is <br /> creating two more buildable lots that would be 50' x 135'. Craig stated at some future point in time those <br /> lots could be sold off and utilized or Mr. Merrill could construct a garage in that area. Craig stated due to <br /> his concerns,he would prefer it not be vacated. <br /> Jennifer Welsh, 1180 Elmwood Avenue, stated the road is an old fire lane and that it is not a two-lane <br /> road. If two cars meet,one car has to back up. In addition to the narrow road, Welsh indicated she has <br /> been running into problems with water and mud. Currently the drainage ditches are overflowing with <br /> mud and gravel,which spills over onto the neighbors who live downstream from her. Welsh indicated <br /> she cleaned it up because the drainage ditch is not being maintained but that she cannot keep cleaning it <br /> up because it is coming from further up. Welsh reiterated that there are problems with this road and that <br /> the City needs to figure out the best way to handle it. Welsh requested they look at how much hardcover <br /> will be back there and the environmental impacts that it will have on the area since it is very close to the <br /> lake. <br /> James Theisen, 1295 Elmwood, stated when he moved in 20 years ago,there were nine properties being <br /> serviced off of Elmwood and now there are 11 homes located on a very narrow roadway. Theisen stated <br /> he was very surprised that house was allowed to be built, and that from what he understands,the property <br /> back on North Ann Drive had an outlot which was not supposed to be split off. It unfortunately was split <br /> off and two new homes have been built. <br /> Theisen stated the road is very problematic and very narrow. The vacation is problematic given the <br /> possibility of building another home or building. The boundary that is truly Bob's property is the <br /> turnaround. Theisen stated he is opposed to the vacation due to access concerns for the present properties <br /> and the potential for future building. Theisen stated the road really is a one-way road and the two new <br /> homes have made it much more difficult. Theisen stated cars have to back up all the time to get out of the <br /> way and that a better solution would be change the configuration rather than vacating land. <br /> Scott Christianson,Elmwood, stated he has resided on Elmwood for 25 years and that the area is getting <br /> to be quite the disaster. Christianson stated he blames the City for allowing some of these homes to be <br /> built on lots that were never buildable before. In addition,the lift station issue will be a huge cost to the <br /> taxpayers,and the only reason that is a problem is that the house was allowed to be built and the driveway <br /> goes right over the top of it. The land is also used for snowmobile access. <br /> Christianson noted there is some serious runoff coming down North Arm in addition to the traffic <br /> problems. Christianson stated in his view the end game is to build another house or two in that area, <br /> which is why the neighbors are against it. <br /> Allen Merrill,Applicant, stated no one is more disappointed in the new homes than he is and that in his <br /> view a lot of this is residual frustration from those homes being built. Merrill indicated he has no intent <br /> of splitting the properties off or developing the land and that at most it will be a playground for his <br /> children. <br /> Page 7 of 12 <br />