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MINUTES OF THE <br /> ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING <br /> Monday,April 21,2014 <br /> 6:30 o'clock p.m. <br /> will better allow for the required 15-foot separation between the two unit groupings and will eliminate the <br /> need for shared driveways. <br /> Gaffron displayed a color rendition of the proposed type of house for the development. <br /> Gaffron stated the Stonebay Homeowners Association has been actively procuring builders to complete <br /> the development and is providing architectural oversight to ensure consistent design through the <br /> subdivision and has approved the replat. The previously approved grading and drainage plans,as well as <br /> landscape plans from the original approved plat,will remain essentially unchanged as a result of the <br /> replat. <br /> In addition to the replat,the applicant is proposing to combine two existing building pads,Lots 7 and 8, <br /> into one building pad at the north end of Boulder Drive. This will resolve a longstanding site layout issue <br /> in which a triple-shared driveway would have been so constricted by wetlands and retaining wall <br /> proximity as to make the westerly pad nearly unbuildable. The combination to allow for one home <br /> instead of two at this location is supported by the two adjacent neighbors. Gaffron noted this will only <br /> require administrative approval and Staff has no issues with the proposal. <br /> Staff recommends approval of the replat and easement vacation/rededication as proposed, subject to City <br /> Attorney review and approval of the pertinent subdivision and easement documents. <br /> Lemke asked if the retaining wall pretty much follows the contours. <br /> Gaffron indicated it does and noted the only place that will require retaining walls will be between the <br /> three lots to the north and the two to the south. Gaffron stated in general it does not really impact the <br /> drainage or landscape plans but will reduce some of the encroachments. <br /> McGrann asked if the homeowners association has commented on the application. <br /> Gaffron stated the homeowners association has indicated they are fine with reducing the number of lots <br /> from six to five. <br /> Lemke asked if Staff has the landscaping plan and whether it needs to be updated. <br /> Gaffron stated Staff does have a landscaping plan but it does not need to be updated. Gaffron stated the <br /> landscape plan is not available as an overhead. <br /> Thiesse asked if the homes will be walkouts. <br /> Gaffron indicated they will be one-story with a walkout. Gaffron stated one of the problems with the <br /> original proposal was that the developer wanted to maximize the land as much as possible. Gaffron <br /> indicated this was at the point when the Watershed District reviewed the wetland delineation after the <br /> preliminary plat approval. As a result,the Watershed District allowed the buildings to be closer to the <br /> wetlands than what is now allowed. <br /> Gaffron stated that resulted in the City in 2005 or 2006 to require a 20-foot gap between the wetland <br /> buffer and a building,but noted this subdivision was originally developed prior to that. The City has <br /> Page 2 of 19 <br />