Laserfiche WebLink
MINUTES OF THE <br /> ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING <br /> Monday,June 16,2014 <br /> 6:30 o'clock p.m. <br /> Schoenzeit asked whether any zoning change from residential to commercial is always accompanied by a <br /> Comprehensive Plan Amendment and which would happen first. <br /> Gaffron stated technically the Comprehensive Plan Amendment should precede the rezoning. In this case <br /> a Comprehensive Plan Amendment was not initially applied for but it is clear that the City cannot take <br /> any action on the rezoning until or at least there is a Comprehensive Plan Amendment happening at the <br /> same time. <br /> Schoenzeit asked what became broken in this situation that caused it to require fixing now. <br /> Gaffron stated there are a couple of reasons that it is not logical to continue with the existing situation. <br /> One of them has to do with dock locations and the fact that in order to make docks more conforming with <br /> LMCD code,the setbacks would need to be complied with and the rezoning would help that situation. <br /> The second factor is if you look at what exists on the site,there is a building in very poor condition and an <br /> existing residence that is currently being rented out. Both of those buildings are limited in how they can <br /> be used residentially due to the parking agreement that is in effect that utilizes all the parking for the <br /> residences. Gaffron stated the ability to make some positive changes to the site based on the rezoning is <br /> something that would be useful to both the applicant and the City as well as perhaps the neighborhood by <br /> reducing the number of access points to County Road 15 to one location. Circulation on the site is also <br /> poor and forces any commercial use of the residential sites to maneuver by using a number of backing <br /> movements. In addition,there are no clearly defined limits from a practical perspective on how many <br /> cars can fit into that area. Gaffron stated the only way to get 26 cars in that area is to double stack the <br /> parking, which would require a person to be on staff full-time. <br /> Gaffron indicated the ability to require some stormwater management for the gravel parking area would <br /> also come along with a rezoning and that currently the City does not have an easy way to require some of <br /> those changes. <br /> Schoenzeit asked if all the activities that are currently taking place on the property have been <br /> grandfathered in. <br /> Gaffron indicated that is correct and that it then becomes a question of whether the activities have truly <br /> been grandfathered in and whether the use has changed. Gaffron noted the activities have been an issue <br /> for the neighbor and that changing the layout creates the opportunity to eliminate some of the past uses. <br /> Schoenzeit stated what he is hearing is that the best way for the City to gain some concessions is under <br /> the zoning change. <br /> Gaffron indicated that is correct. <br /> Leskinen asked if the possibility of a residential subdistrict is a viable solution. <br /> Gaffron stated there are a number of obstacles to a residential subdistrict as well as a commercial <br /> subdistrict. Gaffron indicated Staff has not given a residential subdistrict a lot of thought but that he <br /> would prefer not to create a residential subdistrictfor properties that have been used commercially. <br /> Chair Leskinen opened the public hearing at 6:56 p.m. <br /> Page 4 of 18 <br />