Laserfiche WebLink
MINUTES OF THE <br /> ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING <br /> Tuesday,January 20,2015 <br /> 6:30 o'clock p.m. <br /> Schoenzeit suggested a limitation on height be placed on ornamental wind devices, such as under ten feet. <br /> Schoenzeit stated he has an ornamental wind device in his garden that is approximately five feet in height <br /> and that the blades do move. <br /> Landgraver asked what chapters or other city codes they would need to comply with. <br /> Gaffron stated if they are considered an accessory structure,they would need to meet the City's accessory <br /> structure regulations, such as setbacks, and could not be any higher than the principal house structure. <br /> Thiesse asked if the City has any historical information on ornamental wind devices. <br /> Gaffron indicated it does not. Gaffron stated there have been a few ornamental wind devices in the City <br /> but a number of them have been removed over the years. <br /> Leskinen stated she is not sure whether a garden wind mill would rise to the level of an accessory <br /> structure. <br /> Gaffron stated in his view the accessory section of the code does not really address ornamental devices. <br /> Leskinen stated she does not want to overregulate ornamental structures in someone's yard, but that an <br /> ornamental wind device would need to be addressed somewhere since it could be called ornamental but <br /> still be impactful if it is too large. <br /> McGrann asked whether someone could put up a permanent basketball hoop at 10 to 12 feet without a <br /> permit. <br /> Gaffron indicated they could. <br /> McGrann asked if someone could put up a piece of art or sculpture that is 25 feet in their front yard. <br /> Gaffron stated the Code does not really talk about art or sculpture but that it does address flag poles. <br /> Gaffron noted the City revised their Accessory Structure Code a couple of years ago to address certain <br /> specific structures, such as a flag pole in the lakeshore area. Gaffron stated an option would be <br /> establishing a maximum height for a decorative wind device. <br /> McGrann stated in his view, a flag pole at 25 feet is probably considerably less obstructive than a wind <br /> mill at 25 feet. McGrann stated something below 15 feet is fine and that anything over that could create <br /> issues, especially in a residential neighborhood. <br /> Landgraver noted a question in Staff's report asked if they be treated as accessory structures or signage <br /> and subject to pertinent standards for such uses. Landgraver asked what the City's signage standards are. <br /> Gaffron stated an example was in the commercial area of Navarre that was intended to be purely <br /> ornamental but it was above the parapet of the building. <br /> Curtis stated the City in that situation required the ornamental device to become part of the sign and could <br /> not be free-standing. Curtis stated the sign has not been installed yet and is still being designed, but the <br /> blade structure will be incorporated into the sign. <br /> Page 3 of 21 <br />