07-15-2019 Planning Commission Minutes

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION Monday,July 15,2019 6:30 o'clock p.m. someone has a 50-foot lot or 100 or 200 feet of lakeshore, and is the reason why there should be an average. Erickson stated he could probably support some type of upper limit. As it relates to flag lots, Erickson stated he would like to see something that disregards the flag lots. If it was a new subdivision,flag lots would not be allowed,and if somebody next door wants to build a house, they should not have to drastically compromise their layout to accommodate someone whose house is behind them. One way to deal with that is just to ignore the flag lot and go to the next house and use that as the average. In addition, every house has a front yard and a back yard. As far as views are concerned,not many have a nice view out the front door. Instead, it is the back yard where they have their picture window and easy chair to admire the sunset. That situation would favor the back yard more than the front yard. Erickson stated a good point was raised also about vegetation and that he would not want to regulate vegetation too much beyond what the City does now,which is to regulate tree removal within 75 feet of the lake. Erickson stated he would encourage people to plant a tree since it is a good thing. The City also has similar rules on fences because fencing and tree planting are going to happen. Libby asked whether Staff will draft something and bring it back before the Planning Commission. Barnhart stated his plan is to summarize the comments of the Planning Commission and then have the same sort of discussion with the City Council to gain their input. Ressler commented the City typically is for maintaining vegetation and not removing it, and that he does not want to get into regulating that. The Planning Commission took no formal action on this item. 9. UPDATE ON JULY 8,2019,CITY COUNCIL MEETING Barnhart reported on the following actions taken by the City Council: • Approved the Todd Long variance on Consent. • Approved the Greg Katchmark application at 140 Leaf Street on Consent. • Approved a variance for 951 Spring Hill Road. • The City Council reviewed the Camp Teko application and directed Staff to draft an approval resolution for the conditional use permit but did not support the bluff encroachment for the three buildings or the storage shed. The City Council did support the variance for the five-year limit. • The interim use permit at 3280 Fox Street was approved. • The interim use permit for Fagerness was also approved. ADJOURNMENT Gettman moved,McCutcheon seconded,to adjourn the Orono Planning Commission meeting at 8:38 p.m. VOTE: Ayes 6,Nays 0. Page 16 of 17