06-12-2017 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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CITY OF ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING Monday, May 15,2017 6:30 o'clock p.m. Schoenzeit commented he is the last one to say that the City should make someone spend money, but this particular activity is at an intensity level that requires engineering. Schoenzeit stated he cannot make a recommendation for them to go forward with it since it is against Staff s recommendations. Leskinen stated if they can find an engineer that will sign off on the plans as proposed, then that is one thing, but that she is not comfortable with it. Olson stated he is struggling with it since the property owner did not cause this problem. Olson stated he does not doubt the capability of the team but questioned whether the City is setting up a level of expectation that other applicants will also not require engineering. Schwingler noted it would be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Thiesse questioned whether the future owner also has an expectation that it will hold. Schoenzeit stated the liability probably comes with a future property owner. Curtis noted conditional use permits are recorded against the title of the property so they would be accessible to a future owner. Thiesse stated in his mind it is more than a landscaping project and is remediation. Schwingler stated he is okay with it without the engineer signoff. Schwingler commented it is a tough case and that the property owners are trying to do the right thing. Schwingler stated he understands the importance of an engineer signoff, but instead of allowing the property owners to improve what exists, the City is now penalizing them and requiring them to get an engineer approval. Schwingler commented sometimes it comes down to a practicality. Schoenzeit commented he knows enough about engineering that he cannot say yes to this.