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Posted by Rianna
on December 9, 2008, 1:25 am, in reply to "Re: Overseas"
68.56.132.177
This was forwarded to me about a month or so ago.
Overseas owners unite parcels with road abandonment
Leaving small city parcel skirts neighbor objections
By Rob Busweiler
Free Press Staff
Owners of the now closed historic Overseas Bar and Lounge in Marathon were granted their road abandonment request during last week's general city council meeting.
Getting the road abandonment means the owners can now unify the Overseas property with another parcel they own behind the old bar. The two properties had previously been split by an old unused road. The move had previously been blocked since the owners of the neighboring Stuffed Pig restaurant, of which City Councilman Mike Cinque is a passive owner, objected. City of Marathon code allows for neighbors of proposed road abandonment requests to veto the move.
In order to get around the rule, the next request left a small portion of city-owned property in between the Overseas and Stuffed Pig properties, and after months of delays, the city council agreed to grant the abandonment.
"We haven't used this [road] for anything for decades," Vice Mayor Chris Bull said. "I don't understand what is the benefit of not abandoning this right of way."
According to city maps, the Overseas Bar and Lounge building is a prime example of a legal nonconforming structure. Since it was built before road setback rules were created, it practically sits on U.S. 1.
"The Overseas building is nonconforming in every conceivable way," said Frank Greenman, one of the attorneys representing the property owners. "A legitimate developer could build a 5,000 square foot commercial building with apartments on top and move it back [off of the highway]."
The proceedings caused a stir locally over the summer since a city councilman is a part-owner in the neighboring property. Further complicating matters was an anonymous offer to buy the Overseas property following the initial denial of the road abandonment.
"Why did they object?" Richard Warner, another attorney representing the Overseas owners, said of the Stuffed Pig owners. "Because they wanted to buy the property for less than it was worth."
Cinque has previously told the Free Press he would not comment on the anonymous offer and said he would not participate in any vote on the abandonment. Cinque was not in attendance at last week's meeting since he was out of town.
Local Real Estate agent Morgan Hill spoke on behalf of the Stuffed Pig owners and said nobody is trying to steal the property.
"Usually when we are abandoning the road we know what the plan is going to be," Hill said. "We have no guarantees."
Greenman said the property owners have no plans to develop the lots, but would instead sell the land.
With Cinque absent, the council voted 3-1 in favor of the abandonment. Councilwoman Marilyn Tempest objected to the initial motion because she wanted more restrictions placed on the abandonment to help ensure the property is redeveloped.
rbusweiler@yahoo.com
--Previous Message--
: The whole building is closed, including
: Mamajo's Motorcycles which also shut down.
: Don't know what Roy & Bev are doing, but
: I haven't seen them around town for quite a
: while...
:
: --Previous Message--
: It has been a while since I have been to
: Marathon. Has anything being done with the
: Overseas Lounge since Roy and Bev were
: forced to close? What has happened to Roy
: and Bev?
:
:
:
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