09-09-2019 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, September 9,2019 7:00 o'clock p.m. Planning Commission. From the beginning the City Council has been pretty clear that they do not want to make any major changes. Walsh recommended keeping the existing language but adding the exception that the average lakeshore setback line shall not go through the principal structure of the adjacent lot, and if it does,then the nearest point that does not go through the adjacent lot shall be used as the starting point for the average lakeshore setback line. When it goes through its own house, Staff has to find the next point where it does not go through the house so it has a view that would be protected. Walsh stated whenever the City adopts new codes,they do not always know if there will be issues with certain lots. The Planning Commission recommended a few wholesale changes, but the Council would like to just tweak that particular section. Johnson stated he understood from the work session that they were going to leave it as is and deal with it on a more one-to-one basis and that he was surprised by the changes recommended by the Planning Commission. Johnson indicated he is in favor of keeping the code as is. Because it is a complex issue, for the few times that it comes up, it is good for it to come before the City Council. Walsh stated if they can tweak something that is obvious, it would eliminate the need to bring it before the City Council. Greg Hueler,2715 Pence Lane, stated they were looking at the blue line,which was recommended by the Planning Commission, and a lot of people are confused about Staff's recommendation and the recommendation of the Planning Commission. Kelly Hueler asked if the Planning Commission voted and recommended this. Seals stated they recommended the blue line. Kelly Hueler stated one of the options showed their house,with the Dunkley project and the Vogstrom project being highlighted. If you look at the blue line,their understanding was that it was basically saying that if you do the average calculation between the Dunkley home, which exceeds the 75-foot setback and is 29 feet from the lake,and their home,which is 100 feet of setback from the lake,the middle home could come out closer to the lake. Walsh stated the City Council is voting on their own option and not the recommendation of the Planning Commission. Hueler stated they have not heard these options. Walsh stated he would never tell anyone they could put a house there. Greg stated the way he understood the blue line, he would be able to move his house closer to the lake. Walsh stated one of the reasons why it is discussed at the Planning Commission and work sessions is to have these types of conversations and to look at different options. The City Council is not looking to make wholesale changes to the ordinance,and it does not mean the City Council has to accept the recommendation of the Planning Commission. Page 5 of 10