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Orono council approves recording of Smith Avenue cul-de-sac easement, authorizes $2,000 payment
Summary
Council approved recording a previously unrecorded easement at the Smith Avenue cul-de-sac, authorized $2,000 compensation to the property owner, and noted the easement likely went unrecorded due to prior litigation and a subsequent sale.
The Orono City Council approved recording an easement for the Smith Avenue cul-de-sac and authorized $2,000 in compensation to the property owner.
Staff told council the easement was created in 2020 but was not recorded after extended litigation involving the previous property owner; when the property later sold, the new owner was not on notice. City staff said the city code and setback calculations had still been applied, but recording the easement would clean up the title and clarify rights over the cul-de-sac.
City attorney explained recorded easements put the public on notice and confirmed that in this case the prior litigation likely explained the delay in recording. Council voted to accept the easement as presented and approve the compensation.
Why it matters: recording the easement resolves an encumbrance that affects property rights and building-permit setbacks in the cul-de-sac area and prevents future uncertainty for residents and builders.
What’s next: staff will record the easement with the county and issue compensation to the property owner as authorized by the council.
