Laserfiche WebLink
MINUTES OF THE <br />ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING <br />Monday, June 19, 2017 <br />6:30 o'clock p.m. <br />Staff is recommending tabling the application to allow for the submittal of certain information related to <br />the rezoning request. The applicant is requesting that public comments be received and that the Planning <br />Commission make a recommendation so the plan can proceed forward to the City Council. <br />Thiesse asked if the hardcover will go beyond the 50 percent if it is rezoned to RPUD. <br />Barnhart stated the proposed hardcover is at 36 percent and they would be allowed up to 50 percent. Any <br />amount over 50 percent would require a variance as well as mitigation. <br />Thiesse asked if the City is protecting the neighborhood by allowing condominiums rather than any other <br />use on this site. <br />Barnhart stated the applicant has changed his proposal from an apartment building to condominiums <br />following a neighborhood meeting. Barnhart noted the traffic numbers were provided by ITE. <br />Lemke asked what Staff believes are the main issues. <br />Barnhart indicated the main issues would be height and traffic. Barnhart stated he understands the <br />impacts of traffic on the area, but noted the lot is currently vacant and any development will generate <br />some level of traffic. Barnhart stated this area is not zoned residential, and if it is rezoned to residential, it <br />would require approval from the Metropolitan Council at a density of three units per acre. <br />Tom Goodrum, stated they have listened to the comments of the Planning Commission, the City Council, <br />and the neighbors, and redesigned their plan to be 40 high-quality condominium units rather than 51 <br />apartments. <br />Goodrum stated they are proposing the same footprint but that they have enhanced the building by <br />increasing the height of the ceilings. The number of parking stalls has also been reduced and another 15 <br />feet of buffering along Shadywood Road has been added. The targeted tenants for this site are expected <br />to be empty nesters and retirees, which is also what the residents wanted. <br />Page 3 of 14 <br />