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MINUTES OF THE <br /> ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING <br /> Monday,May 21,2018 <br /> 6:30 o'clock p.m. <br /> 5. LA18-000041 CITY OF ORONO,TEXT AMENDMENT—GATES,7:07 P.M.—7:33 P.M. <br /> Curtis stated Staff has been asked to review the regulations regarding entrance gates and the City's <br /> required 75 percent transparency minimum. Gates at driveways are permitted but must meet certain <br /> conditions, including a 5-foot setback from all property lines. Gates and entrance monuments are <br /> permitted up to eight feet in height and fences are allowed up to 42 inches in height adjacent to the street. <br /> A 6-foot fence is allowed in a yard abutting a county highway on a lakeshore lot. Fences may be 100 <br /> percent opaque. <br /> Staff has provided a draft ordinance for Planning Commission review and comment. The draft ordinance <br /> removes the requirement for transparency. In addition,the draft ordinance proposes a formatting <br /> modification for gates to be permitted where entrance monuments do not exist. In these instances gates <br /> would not be permitted to extend higher than the permitted fence. <br /> Thiesse noted the requirement for a building permit has been struck in the draft ordinance and asked <br /> whether it is still required. <br /> Curtis indicated she added it as Item i under Item 9 and eliminated it under Item 10f(i) in the draft <br /> ordinance. Curtis stated the gate does not require a building permit but monuments do. <br /> Chair Thiesse opened the public hearing at 7:10 p.m. <br /> Gerald Ferrer, 1560 Hunter Drive, stated he is building a house at 980 Heritage Lane and that he wanted <br /> to add a gate to the driveway. Ferrer indicated in the beginning he did not know the opaqueness rules and <br /> came up with some designs that were then shown to Mr. Barnhart. Ferrer stated he would like to know <br /> why the gates needs to be 25 percent opaque and 75 percent open since the gate is for security and <br /> privacy. <br /> Thiesse stated the Planning Commission will be discussing that this evening and making a <br /> recommendation to the City Council. <br /> Ferrer stated at certain cases he can see the need for some openness but at his property all someone has to <br /> do is walk around the monuments. Ferrer asked whether the requirements will be changed. <br /> Barnhart stated the direction from the City Council is to remove that requirement and that it will likely be <br /> on the June 11 City Council agenda. <br /> Ferrer stated he was not sure whether it has something to do with people possibly getting hurt but that <br /> technology has evolved and that most gates will have sensors preventing the gate from closing on <br /> someone. Ferrer noted gates also have to hinge from behind the back so when the gate closes,nothing <br /> can be crunched between the gate and the pillar. <br /> Libby stated he recently dealt with a gate in his neighborhood and that in talking to traffic engineers and <br /> police officers,they indicated the opacity is sometimes really more important for line of sight for people <br /> turning out. Libby noted there are a lot of people walking in this area and the opaqueness makes it easier <br /> for drivers to see pedestrians. <br /> Ferrer noted the gates have to open in toward the residence. <br /> Page 8 of 17 <br />