10-15-2018 Planning Commission Minutes

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING Monday,October 15,2018 6:30 o'clock p.m. England stated that is something he will have to work with the DNR on and that they would like to incorporate a boardwalk if possible. England stated they want to make sure it is an amenity the residents can use. Nick Walton stated the idea is to build a 3-story building and that they typically would do 9 to 11 feet for the first floor,which ends up being around a 2-foot floor;then 9 foot to ceiling on the second floor, a 2-foot floor; and then 9 feet, with three for the parapet. The shortest way to do a three-story building with 9-foot ceilings is 34 feet. If two feet are added to the first floor, it would be 36 feet, and on a pitched roof, it would end up at 39 feet. Thiesse asked if a two-story building would be viable. Walton indicated they were originally thinking four stories and lowered that to three. Walton stated they typically do not build two-story buildings except for residential. Thiesse stated in his view the 37 to 39 feet will be a struggle to get approved. Walton stated they will look at the height and that they would like to get the Planning Commission's feedback on a flat roof versus a pitched roof Walton stated they are more drawn to a pitched roof Barnhart stated most of the City's PUD developments require a pitched roof. Landgraver stated the residents in the area are used to looking at a natural area and that the height of the building will be a shock. While the site will be developed at some point, 39 feet on top of a hill might be asking too much, and that he would encourage them to be creative on the height. Landgraver noted both the Planning Commission and the City Council have drawn a pretty strong line on height. Lemke asked how many people would live within the 288 units. England indicated it will likely be 600-700 people. Walton noted the project would be phased in. Lemke asked if there is that much demand for rental property in this area. Walton stated in their view there is definitely demand for phase one but that they do not think there is demand for phase two at the present time. Lemke noted last month they looked at a project for 192 units, and then if you add this project in, it comes to around 15 percent of the population of Orono,which seems like a lot of people. Walton stated they have developed 26 different properties over the years and that they have always developed them because the demand was there. Olson asked what the rents will be.