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MINUTES OF THE <br /> ORONO CITY COUNCIL AND PLANNING COMMISSION <br /> JOINT WORK SESSION <br /> Monday,January 9,2012 <br /> 5:00 o'clock p.m. <br /> Gaffron stated he has three or four issues with the draft ordinance as proposed. Gaffron noted the <br /> definition of hardcover has always included the surface area of pools, which is not included in the draft <br /> ordinance. <br /> Gozola stated the Task Force did discuss that issue and that it has been his experience that pools are <br /> meant to hold water and that the water is not going anywhere, which is why he is not sure it should be <br /> considered hardcover. <br /> Gaffron stated his second issue deals with retaining walls, and noted that retaining walls can be narrow or <br /> wide, with flat areas above them, or be an extension of a driveway. Gaffron suggested the Council <br /> discuss whether retaining walls should be included. <br /> Gaffron noted pavers get a 50 percent credit if designed by a licensed engineer and that the Council may <br /> want to consider putting more specific direction on the type of engineering that would be allowed. <br /> Thiesse noted that engineers are not supposed to practice outside of their area of expertise. <br /> Franchot asked what the estimated engineering costs would be to an individual property owner based on <br /> the new regulations. <br /> Gozola indicated he does not have that information currently. <br /> Franchot stated he would be interested to know what type of standards other cities use in their approval <br /> process. Franchot stated the City has heard complaints in the past that Orono's regulations are too <br /> onerous compared to other cities, which may not necessarily be all that bad, but that it is a source of <br /> complaints and that he would like to be sensitive to that issue. <br /> Gozola stated he will work with Bolton& Menk to understand those concerns of the contractors and <br /> homeowners. <br /> Franchot stated the City will need to have a clear understanding of why a certain percentage is required. <br /> McMillan commented the long-term performance of BMPs is unknown at this point and that is why only <br /> a 50 percent credit was given. <br /> Rahn stated in his view the City should not give any credit for paver driveways but should give credit for <br /> paver patios. Rahn commented in his experience paver driveways in Minnesota tend to get paved over <br /> after a period of time. Rahn indicated he would possibly be agreeable to allowing credit for the top of <br /> retaining walls or a certain size patio, but that there are some areas where credit should not be given since <br /> history has shown that those items are usually temporary in nature. <br /> Franchot stated the Council would be doing the citizens a disservice if they base deternunations on things <br /> that we have heard and that he would prefer to see actual studies or statistics. <br /> Gaffron stated he has a concern with the elimination of the zone concept and pointed out that elimination <br /> of those zones does not take into consideration the longer lots. Gaffron indicated Staff has started to do <br /> an analysis of how many lakeshore lots would be affected by eliminating the 250-500 foot zone but it is <br /> not finished at this point. <br /> Gaffron stated in his opinion there is a likelihood that the hardcover allotment without the zone concept <br /> would result in the hardcover being pushed up to the 75-foot line and that on a 500-foot lot,the hardcover <br /> amount would be doubled. A 17 percent standard or a 19 percent standard would increase it even more. <br /> — - -- Page 6 of 11 -- <br />