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MINUTES OF THE <br /> ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION <br /> November 20,2023 <br /> 6:00 o'clock p.m. <br /> ROLL CALL <br /> The Orono Planning Commission met on the above-mentioned date with the following members present: <br /> Acting Chair Jon Ressler, Commissioners Dennis Libby, Ted Schultze,Bob Erickson, and Gary Kraemer. <br /> Commissioners Chris Bollis and Mark McCutchen were absent. Representing Staff were Community <br /> Development Director Laura Oakden, City Planner Melanie Curtis, and City Planner Natalie Nye. <br /> Acting Chair Ressler called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.,followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. <br /> APPROVAL OF AGENDA <br /> Libby moved, Schultze seconded,to approve the Agenda.VOTE: Ayes 5,Nays 0. <br /> APPROVAL OF PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES OF OCTOBER 16,2023 <br /> Kraemer moved, Schultze seconded,to approve the minutes of the Orono Planning Commission <br /> meeting of October 16, 2023.VOTE: Ayes 5,Nays 0. <br /> PUBLIC HEARINGS <br /> 1. LA23-000045 ELLETTE ANDERSON AND JAMES & MELISSA EASLEY, 1250 <br /> SPRUCE PLACE & 1260 SPRUCE PLACE,REQUEST VACATION OF THE <br /> ADJACENT UNIMPROVED RIGHT-OF-WAY OF "LAKE STREET". <br /> City Planner Curtis gave a presentation on the item, stating the applicant is requesting to vacate the <br /> unimproved right-of-way situated between 1250 Spruce Place (owned by James&Melissa Easley)and <br /> 1260 Spruce Place (owned by Ms. Anderson, the applicant). This unimproved right-of-way is also known <br /> as "Lake Street"on the plat of Saga Hill,Revised, and it terminates at the High Water Level of North <br /> Arm Bay. There are no City utilities within the right-of-way,however there are riprap spillways <br /> facilitating overland drainage from Spruce Place and approximately 900 square feet of the Easleys' <br /> driveway. The City Engineer does not recommend vacating the right of way as the site serves as a <br /> draining way for the area and has also been identified as a possible future public accessway to the lake. <br /> The City does not have any Park improvements in that area. The access has a public purpose because of <br /> the drainage way, Curtis said. There are identified lake access points in this area including Sandy Beach <br /> located to the south, which is established as a swimming beach, and the City's fishing dock off of Loma <br /> Linda Avenue to the north. Both access points are less than 500 feet from this location. Curtis explained <br /> the challenge with vacating rights-of-way is that vacation is final. Should the public or the City have <br /> access or utility needs in the future, the cost to taxpayers to reacquire the property will be at a premium, <br /> she said, so vacation reduces options for the City in the future. The Department of Natural Resources <br /> (DNR) also opposes the vacation as it does not provide a public benefit and does not protect future public <br /> use of the land to access the lake. Public comments in support of the vacation were received. Staff <br /> recommends denial of the request to vacate the right-of-way at this time as there is currently a public <br /> benefit for drainage purposes and the future purpose of the land is undetermined. <br /> Libby asked if the area is served by City water or private wells. <br /> Curtis said the parcels have private wells. <br /> Page 1 of 6 <br /> 3 <br />