03/16/2015 Planning Commission Minutes

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING Monday,March 16,2015 6:30 o'clock p.m. with the development of the Lund parking lot that has created a cascading effect down the hillside. Ware stated adding more hardscape will only be a detriment. Ware indicated he is in agreement with Judy Fredrickson's comment relating to the driveways with four single-family homes is not a possibility given the wetland crossing that would be required. Ware stated he would like the Planning Commission to take into consideration the drainage study,the cost of improvements, and the increased hardscape leading to increased runoff. In addition, safety issues should also be considered at the intersection of Kelly and County Road 15. Ware stated it is likely the traffic counts will more than double. Ware stated the number of vehicles from this project would more than double those that received postcards about this development. Ware stated the increased density and traffic will only lead to increased safety issues. Ware stated if this project gets any traction, a thorough traffic study needs to be done. Ware stated as it relates to the impacted property values, in his view this will have a significant detriment to their property values. Ware stated if this application is approved,Mr. Delaney will win economic value and the rest of those in the neighborhood,who bought into the current zoning,will lose. Ware stated he would ask the Planning Commission to take those items into consideration. Chuck Nadler,2509 Kelly Avenue, stated he wants to talk about the safety and the traffic. Nadler stated the intersection of County Road 15 and Kelly is already overloaded. Nadler stated he supports Mr. Delaney developing this property as it is currently zoned but that he does not see any rationale for this development. Nadler stated when the developer presented tonight, as he talked about all the things that would be required of him, such as how the drainage will not spill to the south,the landscape, and lots of other commitments, the reality is that their integrity is not very good. Nadler stated he would be very concerned about whether they would meet all of these commitments that the City puts on them. Elizabeth Sedgwick, 4182 Arrowhead Drive, Medina, noted she is not a resident in Orono and originally had no intention of speaking this evening. Sedgwick stated when she was walking through the parking lot, she saw a truck door open and some books spill out. Sedgwick indicated she went over to help him, during which time Mr. Bessesen took the opportunity to let her know that he felt threatened by her presenting any ideas or comments on this development since she was not a resident of Orono. Sedgwick stated she is not here tonight representing anybody on Kelly Avenue but that she owns a landscape company that is internationally published. Sedgwick stated the only comment she would like to make on behalf of herself as a resident of Medina is that she would like to seek out the City of Orono as a place for her new home. Sedgwick stated having reviewed this particular development as potentially a possibility, she finds it architecturally unsound and very unappealing. Sedgwick stated she is frightened for the local residents as they will now see the existing flooding conditions that have impacted 2605 Kelly Avenue in the past now be partly impacted by this new development. Bob Ponzetti, 2545 Kelly Avenue, stated he supports everything that has been said by his neighbors. Ponzetti indicated they bought their house 20 years ago, and when the first bought the house,they had a lawn between Kelly Avenue and their house. Ponzetti indicated they have let that area basically become naturalized because they like the idea of privacy and intimacy of Kelly Avenue as it now stands. Ponzetti Page 10 of 30