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MINUTES OF THE <br />ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING <br />Monday, September 11, 207 <br />7:00 o'clock p.m. <br />15. #17-3963 JHG PROPERTIES, LLC, 4035 DAHL ROAD, PRELIMINARY PLAT, <br />VARIANCES, CONSERVATION DESIGN WAIVER — Continued <br />Seals asked if he has approached any other neighbors that have properties over one acre to see if they <br />would be willing to make him whole. <br />Gilbert stated he has not and that in his experience it is complicated to deal with mortgage companies and <br />is not practical. <br />Seals noted a property on Heritage Lane was successful with acquiring additional land to help in their <br />situation, which is something he should think about. <br />Gilbert stated he has and that it would result in a number of delays. Gilbert stated he is not sure what to <br />do with the property if it is not approved but that he will not put a trailer home on it. Gilbert indicated he <br />might put it on the market again and be done with it. <br />Dankey asked if there are any other million dollar houses in the area that are not on the lake. <br />Gilbert indicated there is not and that a lot of them are valued between $250,000 and $350,000. Gilbert <br />stated there was one property that was assessed at $600,000. <br />There were no public comments related to this application. <br />Printup stated the lot as it is currently is buildable and that it is not necessary to grant a variance. <br />Walsh noted the City did not create new lots on Wildhurst but that there were some setback issues. Walsh <br />stated in his view these two cases are not mutually inclusive and that he does not equate density variances <br />with setback variances. Walsh stated the character of neighborhoods is a big issue in Orono and that the <br />people who have lived here have lived here for a long time. Walsh questioned where it would end if the <br />City allowed someone to create a nonconforming lot. Walsh stated it is not a practical difficulty to own a <br />1.8 acre lot in a one -acre zone and that the City has always said economics is not a deciding factor. <br />Printup noted the standard in the Comprehensive Plan is one -acre and this would be inconsistent. <br />Walsh commented the applicant knew what he was buying. <br />Dankey noted there are two smaller lots that were created a long time ago near this property but that the <br />applicant knew what he was getting into when he purchased the property. <br />Seals stated the zoning districts were created for a reason and a variance to density is not something the <br />Council is in favor of. <br />Walsh noted the City Council has discussed other variances to density in the past and have denied those <br />requests. <br />Dankey commented the football field could be a selling point since a huge lot would be pretty desirable. <br />Seals moved, Printup seconded, to direct Staff to prepare a denial resolution for Application No. <br />17-3963, JHG Properties, Inc., 4035 Dahl Road. VOTE: Ayes 4, Nays 0. <br />Page 9 of 17 <br />