05-20-1974 Planning Commission Meeting

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Minutes of the regular Planning Commission Meeting, Monday, May 20, 1974 Page 5 Mq rk Whitehead, the City Attorney, appeared before the Planning Commission to explain some ordinances that he was requested to draft. One ordinance would prohibit the transferring of build- ing credits from any portions of non - conforming lots across public roads or public and private easements. Pesek moved, Gasch seconded that the Planning Commission recommend to the Council that the transfer of credits provisions be included in the new zoning ordinance. Ayes (7) Nays (0). Kullberg abstained. The lake setback requirement suggested by Mr. Whitehead would allow the community to impose more stringent requirements in ord- er to avoid a styllzed pattern in lake setbacks., The Planning Commission decided they should delay any decision on this par- ticular provision. Mr. Whitehead informed the Planning Commission that he was asked by several individuals to review the suit filed by North Shore Marina against the City of Orono and to determine what grounds the court used to void the Village's decision. `4r. Whitehead recommended to the.•PIanning Commission that if they consider "down zoning" any property, it should be part of a comprehensive plan and the rezoned land should be given a use that is reasonable in relation to surrounding land uses. The Zoning Administrator informed the Planning Commission that this request for a variance involved land that previously was platted into lots of 1.6 acres to 2.2 acres., The question is how will Orono handle these non - conforming lots. The staff rec- ommends that the ordinance be changed dropping the provision referred to as "single separate ownership, and in its place, use the standards established under the provision of "Lot of Record." Chairman VanNest felt that it is foolish to require people to apply for variances when in the end, most of them are granted. Instead, we should establish appropriate standards for the various zones and those lots that do not comply with the zoning ordinance but do conform to fhe established standards, there would not be a need for a variance. This would save staff time and the time of the Planning Commission and Council. Kullberg moved, Pesek seconded, that the Planning Commission rec- ommend to the Council that they adopt a provision referred to as "Lot of Record" for zoning districts RR -IA, RR -I13, and LR -IA with the minimum lot size being I acre rather than 3 /4'6dre. Guthrie moved, Curtis seconded, that the Planning Commission rec- ommend to the Council that they adopt a lot of record provision for zoning districts LR -113, LR -IC, LR -IC -I, R -IA, R -1,B, as was suggested by the Zoning Administrator. Ayes (7) Nays (0)._ Pesek abstained. Ordinances Transfer of Cred i f & Lake Setback North Shore Marin-i Zimmer & Dale Variance Lot of Record Ordinance