04-23-2018 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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Minutes of the Orono City Council & Planning Commission Special Joint Work Session Monday, April 9, 2018 Council Chambers 5:00 p.m. own feel and community. Walsh questioned if a change in density is necessary. Walsh added that if the standard is changed, it might be very hard to ever change it back to the way it was. There was discussion regarding the support of the current standards and opt to not change the current density. Through discussion a questioned was raised that it could be possible that residents may not understand the full meaning behind density. Walsh mentioned that the standard may hold new developers accountable. Walsh noted that developers would work with the standards if interested in the land. He questioned if we would want to try to make it happen. Council Member Richard F. Crosby II, mentioned that it is the ramifications to the people that live there that needs to be taken into account when talking about density and design. He opted that the two story standards fits within that standard. Barnhart mentioned the city had received comments regarding support of the improvements and also support of increasing density. There was group discussion regarding the possible impacts that density may have in the area and the affects the will have on crosswalks, pedestrian traffic, parking and growth of the Navarre area. Rief mentioned that there is an interest to standardize design and also there is interest in improving access to the businesses. Rief added that he would like to reach out and present to people to show what it may look like. Rief mentioned that inevitably new developments will come into the area and he questioned if we would want to standardize design to accommodate those redevelopments and what the area is expected or desired to look like for the future. Crosby mentioned that the current newer businesses out there have already started the standard design and we may want to follow that design to mainstream the area. Walsh feels we should be careful with the term standard because of all the different types of businesses that could possibly develop there and there needs for design. There was discussion to possibly standardize the preference of materials could be established versus standardizes a style or rules. The general consensus was to look further to the public for more information. Rief mentioned we need to review the access into the area and also into the businesses. We need to look further into the access, sidewalks, and how we need to address those. There was discussion of the benefits to the businesses from an underground parking for