02-27-2017 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, February 13, 2017 7:00 o'clock p.m. Barnhart stated that has been accommodated to some degree with the most recent amendment with the Shadywood Villas development in the Navarre area. Also identified were some higher density areas for redevelopment in Navarre. Barnhart stated with the new update, the City likely will have to identify some other areas. Barnhart indicated designating higher density is not as simple as picking an area away from all residential and saying this is where the higher density should be but that there are other factors involved that will be worked on through the process, such as access to highways and bussing. Barnhart indicated the City will need to look at that in conjunction with the density issue. Barnhart stated the other issue is the Navarre area and that the update is a great opportunity to establish a vision for that area. The density and business culture of the Navarre area provides a unique opportunity to establish a city center type environment. In the past the Council had a vision for that area that was somewhat different from the Comprehensive Plan and this would be an opportunity to look at that as well as possible streetscaping improvements or a parking lot. Barnhart noted another area the Council will be looking at this year is smaller residential lots and the issues associated with small lots, such as lot area, width, setbacks, and density. Barnhart stated it is his understanding the Council would like to review this issue separately from the Comprehensive Plan Update. Barnhart noted the City did include in its budget for this year a planning consultant to assist with a focused plan for a small area of the City. In addition, Staff recommends using a taskforce type committee to obtain community feedback. The Project Advisory Committee would include two council members, two planning commissioners, a park commissioner, along with two to four citizens. Barnhart noted he has received three residents' names from Mayor Walsh already. This committee would provide advice to the planning team. Staff would like to solicit volunteers from the various commissions to be formally appointed by the Council at the next meeting. This committee would meet monthly. Barnhart noted that Staff had originally planned on doing the Comprehensive Plan Update in house, but given the anticipated workload, Staff cannot internally complete the Comprehensive Plan unless the planner position is filled. The City is required to submit the draft to the Metropolitan Council by the end of September, 2018. Barnhart stated Staff is looking for direction to solicit volunteers to the Project Advisory Committee. A rough draft of this year's schedule has been included in the Council packet. Barnhart noted the City Engineer has already started updating of the mapping and that the mapping will need to be reviewed by outside agencies. Barnhart stated Staff had wanted to start this process in February but that he is now looking to start the process in March or April. Walsh asked if anyone from the public would like to comment on this item. Randi Carlson, 1185 Arbor Street, stated she and her husband have resided in the Crystal Bay neighborhood for 33 years. The neighborhood is sewered and is zoned two acres but consists almost exclusively of very small lots. Some of the lots are as small as a tenth of an acre. Page 12 of 18