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MINUTES OF THE <br />ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING <br />Monday, August 21, 2017 <br />6:30 o'clock p.m. <br />Muldoon stated they are all equal under the law and in her view this is changing the rules after the fact for <br />someone who does not live in Orono. Muldoon stated they should play by the same rules the residents do <br />and that they likely will find no shortage of people who would buy a lot. Muldoon stated she would like <br />the site to stay as beautiful as it is now. <br />Jamie Lowe, 105 Orono Orchard Road, stated the site is beautiful and reflects the best of Orono. Lowe <br />commented he can appreciate that it will be developed someday but that it should be developed within the <br />rules. Lowe noted there is no hardship and that what is being proposed is a substantial deviation from <br />multiple government bodies. Lowe stated to allow development within the current framework is the best <br />and most appropriate option. <br />Lowe stated of the 15 people that were at the neighborhood meeting, not one single person was in support <br />of the proposal, and that it would be a sad day when the rules are changed for no reasonable purpose. <br />Chair Thiesse closed the public hearing at 9:06 p.m. <br />Quinlivan stated the reason they considered 15 lots is to tie into the MUSA system to avoid the need for <br />private systems. Quinlivan stated he is looking for guidance from the City. <br />Schoenzeit asked if any market studies have been done, especially given the new developments at <br />Lakeview and other areas. <br />Quinlivan stated this location in Orono far outweighs the location of Lakeview, Kintyre and some of the <br />other developments. Quinlivan noted the property is right next to the Luce Line and that in his view these <br />lots would be chosen over them. <br />Leskinen stated her first impression when she read the report was that she does not want to see the City <br />deviate from the underlying zoning. This area is a rural area and it does not need to have an urban feel. <br />Leskinen stated she is not opposed to an RPUD as long as the individual lots are smaller and as long as <br />the overall size of the development conforms to existing zoning. Leskinen stated if there are 17 acres, the <br />maximum number of sites would be eight lots but it might be less depending on the viability of the septic. <br />Leskinen indicated she is not in favor of changing the underlying zoning. <br />Page 6 of 7 <br />