09-18-1995 Planning Commission Minutes

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• MINUTES OF THE ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING HELD ON SEPTEMBER 18, 1995 SKETCH PLAN REVIEWS ( #17) #2043 GORDON J. BUHRER, 2620 FOX STREET - SKETCH PLAN OF PROPOSED TWO LOT SUBDIVISION - PUBLIC HEARING The Certificate of Mailing and Affidavit of Publication were noted. The applicant was present. Gaffron reported that the property is located on Fox Street and abuts Fox Run. The request is to split an existing 4.1 acre lot into two lots, 2.1 and 2.0 acres in size. No drainageway or wetlands have been substracted from this gross acreage. The applicant proposes to split the land into an east lot with the existing house accessing onto Fox Run and a west lot with future access onto Fox Street. The front lot line of the existing 4 -acre parcel is along Fox Street but the driveway access is from Fox Run. In conceptual plan 1, the new building site would access Fox Street and front on Fox Street. The existing house lot would also still front on Fox Street. In plan 2, the only frontage for the existing house would be on Fox Run. The vacant lot would have additional frontage along Fox Street. Plan 2 avoids the need for a lot width variance for lot 1. The front lot line along Fox Run is only 19.6' from the existing house where a 50' setback is required. The existing house • was built in 1968 and required a 20' side street yard setback at that time. Gaffron said the septic sites reportedly would conform for either configuration of plan 1 or plan 2. u There is a buried tile in the drainageway which runs from White Oak Circle to an open channel to a pond. No easement exists over this drainageway. Staff recommends the requirement of a 15' drainage easement the entire length of the tile and channel. The problem with this, according to Gaffron, is, after excluding the area of this easement, the property would end up with less than the 2 acre minimum for each lot. A solution would be to redefine the drainageway and retile or rechannel. A perimeter drainage easement would allow for a credit of 5' or a lot area variance could be granted. Granting of the area variance with a new subdivision has only been approved twice since 1975, and this application is not so unique as to justify variance approval. The Engineer has suggested relocation of the drainageway. A question would be if the dry buildable credit can be given for the entire 7.5' easement needed in each lot. Gaffron said hydraulics and drainage calculations are needed to confirm the flood plain extent, and the City would need to know where the septic sites would be located. No septic testing has been submitted for the site. The proposed building site is not shown. The comprehensive plan suggested that new lots be served by driveways accessing to private roads rather than directly onto public roads. 28