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MINUTES OF THE <br /> ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING <br /> Monday,March 17,2014 <br /> 6:30 o'clock p.m. <br /> Samuel Geer, Landscape Designer, stated in terms of the concerns of City Staff, he would like to point <br /> out is that initially they were not aware of the need to obtain a conditional use permit since they were <br /> utilizing permeable clean rock for fill for the elevated patio deck and it was not fill in the traditional <br /> sense. The excavation that would be necessary to construct the rain gardens was below the stated <br /> threshold of 10 cubic yards in the ordinance. Upon being alerted of that fact, Geer indicated they have <br /> endeavored to comply with all of Staff's requests in terms of additional planning and plan revisions in <br /> terms of adding additional screening and completing a detailed stormwater pollution prevention plan, <br /> which also includes an inspection component. <br /> Geer stated he would also like to point out that overall this project is dedicated to reducing the amount of <br /> hardcover presently on the property and instituting stormwater management practices, such as the <br /> elevated paver decks, which are actually built to be permeable, as well as the rain gardens and vegetative <br /> shoreline restoration on the north side of the property. Geer stated each of these items is intended to <br /> offset the new construction. Likewise, it should be noted that on the west patio,the one labeled H, that <br /> there was an existing at-grade deck that will be removed and returned to a permeable condition. Geer <br /> stated essentially there will be a net reduction in permeable surfaces. The proposed steps located around <br /> Patio H were located roughly over the footprint of an existing concrete slab that wooden steps stepped <br /> down previously. <br /> Geer stated as it relates to the steps coming off of Patio C, they are requesting that the variance basically <br /> take into consideration the fact that overall the hardcover has been reduced in a net sense. Geer indicated <br /> the steps are critical for the decking to match with the existing architectural interfaces. <br /> Geer stated given the exterior elevations of the entrances and exits to the structure, an attempt to not <br /> construct a staircase from the existing footprint would be very problematic and add greatly to the cost of <br /> the project. It would also potentially present a safety problem by not complying with the Code in terms <br /> of a landing. Geer indicated the steps would be inset into the patio. <br /> Leskinen asked when he says Patio H is to be returned to a permeable state, whether it is no longer going <br /> to be a patio. <br /> Geer indicated that is correct. <br /> Leskinen asked if that area is going to be grass or plantings. <br /> Geer indicated previously this area was a three-season porch but there a brick patio around the exterior of <br /> the three-season porch. The proposed paver deck rests within the existing three-season footprint that was <br /> there previously. <br /> Leskinen asked if there will be paver patio there instead. <br /> Geer stated previously there was a three-season porch there and that the brick patio will be removed and <br /> replaced with a mulch planting bed that will be permeable. Geer stated the dotted line depicts the existing <br /> at-grade deck constructed out of bricks. <br /> Brien Nelson, Applicant, indicated that deck was constructed out of pavers and has been removed. The <br /> proposed patio will go directly with the walls as seen in the elevations. The walls will go around the patio <br /> in the area between the three-season porch. Nelson indicated the patio will not be going any further out. <br /> Page 6 of 26 <br />