Commission backs Woodhill Country Club parking upgrades but denies two‑way access on Woodhill Avenue

The Orono Planning Commission on July 20 recommended approval of a parking‑lot redesign at Woodhill Country Club but rejected the club’s request to intensify access on Woodhill Avenue.

Staff planner Matt Carney told the commission the project would formalize parking by converting gravel areas to striped asphalt, add accessible stalls, pedestrian crosswalks and limited downlit parking fixtures, and make drainage fixes near a storm pond. Carney said the application also sought to modify a roughly 25‑year‑old condition that currently limits access at Woodhill Avenue, a change that would likely increase traffic on that street. “Staff will recommend approval of the conditional use permit as it meets the applicable conditional use criteria as it would pertain to a golf course in R‑R‑1B zoning,” Carney said, while urging the commission to ask for additional detail about hours and who would be allowed to use the access.

Brian Edmiston, the club’s general manager, framed the access request as a safety and egress measure for members who live west of the club and said the existing gate is on a timer and cameras are being installed. “Members primarily would exit to that. We do have signage there. It’s private property,” Edmiston said, adding the gate is not intended to operate outside club hours and emergency responders have keyed access.

Nearby residents pushed back. Jane Delaney, who said she has lived on Woodhill Avenue since 1986, described a long history of complaints and said speed‑bumps and signage required by the original permit were missing. “Handing out a pass to them after years and years of violating the conditions of this conditional use permit is not right,” she said, urging stronger monitoring.

Commissioners voiced broad support for the parking improvements but deep concern about permitting two‑way traffic on the small neighborhood street without enforceable controls. Several members suggested a compromise path if the club returns: require automated license‑plate logging or key‑tag access, a clear limit on hours of operation, and monthly trip reports so staff can enforce the CUP. Commissioner Vanderburn urged a data‑reporting condition: “If there’s too much traffic, we can restrict that and so forth,” he said.

The motion that passed recommended approving the parking redesign and denying the request to intensify the Woodhill Avenue access; the vote was 6–1, with Commissioner Brandenburg dissenting. The commission’s recommendation will go to the City Council for final action on Aug. 10.