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MINUTES OF THE <br /> ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING <br /> Monday,November 18,2013 <br /> 6:30 o'clock p.m. <br /> Leskinen moved,McGrann seconded,to recommend approval of Application No. 13-3616, City of <br /> Orono,Amendment of Zoning Code Chapter 78,Add Section 78-1379,Alternative Energy Systems, <br /> incorporating Option 2B on the WECS system and Option 1 for the hydronic furnaces per Staff <br /> recommendations. <br /> Landgraver asked whether only Option 2B would be presented to the City Council. <br /> Gaffron stated he would bring the two different versions forward to the City Council along with the <br /> Planning Commission's recommendation. Gaffron indicated he would bring a version that has a <br /> prohibition on WECS since there has been some feedback from the City Council that they are interested <br /> in a prohibition. Gaffron stated he does not know where the full Council stands on that and that he would <br /> like to bring forward the version the Planning Commission is recommending as well as another version <br /> prohibiting it. <br /> VOTE: Ayes 5, Nays 0. <br /> Thiesse asked whether the draft ordinance would need to come back before the Planning Commission for <br /> a public hearing if the City Council comes up with another option. <br /> Gaffron stated in his view it would not need to but that he can ask the City Attorney. Gaffron noted the <br /> Planning Commission held the public hearing tonight. <br /> Curtis stated the overall topic has been noticed. <br /> Gaffron stated if the City Council adds a fifth category that has not been part of the discussions,that <br /> would be far afield and require it to come back to the Planning Commission. <br /> 9. #13-3644 CITY OF ORONO,AMEND CHAPTER 78 REGARDING MINIMUM <br /> STANDARDS FOR DWELLING UNIT SIZE AND DIMENSIONS,9:46 P.M.—9:53 P.M. <br /> Gaffron stated as a result of a recent zoning application for a lot with a minimal buildable envelope, as <br /> well as questions recently raised with regard to a violation situation involving the premise that a tiny, <br /> uninhabitable cabin should have status as a principal dwelling Staff has conferred with the City Attorney <br /> and concluded that a minimum dwelling size ordinance should be enacted. Gaffron indicated such an <br /> ordinance is relatively common in municipal and county regulations. In Orono, only the RPUD and RS <br /> districts are subject to a minimum single-family detached dwelling size. <br /> The City's current code requires that in the RPUD districts all dwelling units, including manufactured <br /> homes, shall have a depth of at least 20 feet for at least 50 percent of their width. All dwelling units, <br /> including manufactured homes, shall have a width of at least 20 feet for at least 50 percent of their depth. <br /> The RS district requires that all new or remodeled dwellings or habitable buildings shall meet or exceed <br /> the following minimum square footage of enclosed floor area on the main floor. No minimum area is <br /> required for tents, screen houses, or other permitted accessory structures. Principal dwellings must be a <br /> minimum of 800 square feet and seasonal dwellings or guest cabins must be a minimum of 400 square <br /> feet. <br /> Thiesse asked if that would include garages. <br /> Page 33 of 35 <br />