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MINUTES OF THE <br /> ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING <br /> Monday,September 16,2013 <br /> 6:30 o'clock p.m. <br /> the northern two-thirds of the property, and still ending up with a number of lots based on the actual <br /> acreage that is available for dry buildable. <br /> Gaffron noted these are merely options for consideration and are not perfect. In each case you will either <br /> end up with a bunch of houses up against the road or long, skinny lots. The question is what is more <br /> appropriate for the neighborhood and for the City to have. <br /> Gaffron indicated he has treated this application almost more as a sketch plan review than a preliminary <br /> plat. The Planning Commission should consider the following issues: <br /> 1. Use of back lots for a multi-lot plat; <br /> 2. Lack of adherence to back lot standards; <br /> 3. Level of natural areas preservation proposed; <br /> 4. Right-of-way width to be dedicated; <br /> 5. Merits of platting as a PRD. <br /> The Planning Commission's options for action are to make a recommendation for approval with <br /> appropriate conditions, recommend denial, or table the application. In Staff's opinion it would be <br /> appropriate to table the application and to allow the applicant time to reconsider the options for providing <br /> a layout that would meet City Code requirements. <br /> Gaffron noted there are a number of neighbors in attendance at tonight's meeting who would like to speak <br /> in regards to the application. <br /> Landgraver stated as it relates to the right-of-way, it appears that there would be a number of homes that <br /> would be impacted if the road were shifted over and some would be located on the road itself. <br /> Gaffron concurred that there would be a negative impact. The houses would potentially end up not <br /> having conforming front yards. If the lot line is moved back and the setback changes, some of the houses <br /> potentially would end up being nonconforming. <br /> Landgraver commented there is not much the Planning Commission can do about it at this time but that <br /> the comparison should be made with the adjacent properties and how it would impact the neighborhood. <br /> Gaffron stated the wetland would be in the middle of the property and there would be houses to the east <br /> located fairly close to the railroad right-of-way and the paved road. <br /> Thiesse asked what the small parcel is in front of each of the properties. <br /> Gaffron indicated there is a 17-foot or a 20-foot strip of land in front of each of the properties to the east <br /> but not the end property. Gaffron stated that strip of land was apparently dedicated as road at some point <br /> because some of the surveys show that they have lost an additional 17 or 20 feet in that area. Gaffron <br /> stated he does not have a clear understanding of where that came from or why that occurred. <br /> Thiesse asked if it would be appropriate for the City to ask for more right-of-way dedication than what <br /> other properties have been required to do. <br /> Gaffron stated it becomes a question of whether the Railroad Authority decides to require the City to <br /> move the City out of their right-of-way. In that case,the City would prefer to do that without the need for <br /> Page 26 of 34 <br />