03-26-2012 Council Work Session Minutes

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCEUPLANNING COMMISSION'- JOINT WORK SESSION Monday, March 26, 2012 • 5:00 o'clock p.m. final option is to submit a variance application for anything over 35 percent, which would be very difficult to obtain. In comparing the three options, the existing and prescriptive options are essentially the same. The performance option allows for less hardcover but there are higher thresholds that would have to be met without having to obtain a variance. Parcel 2 represents the long lakeshore lots that exist throughout the community and would be Tier 1B type lots. In this situation you are looking at a lot that is 220 feet wide with an overall depth of 930 feet and a total of 1.2 acres. Under the current ordinance, the parcel would be divided into three zones, with the 0 -75 foot zone being essentially hardcover free. The second zone consists of 38,768 square feet and would allow for almost 9,500 square feet of hardcover based on 25 percent. The third zone would be 17,000 square feet based on an area of 1.3 acres. The final zone in purple would be at 35 percent based on 1.53 acres for a total hardcover amount of 1.15 acres. The prescriptive option is similar to what currently exists and would essentially not change given the large numbers. The prescriptive option provides some incentive to encourage construction further away from the lake. The performance based option would not have any land area included beyond 500 feet in terms of calculating what the allowed hardcover would be and the numbers still end up being very large as they would be under the current ordinance. Gozola stated based on those numbers, the City Council may want to look at how to limit overall hardcover on these longer lots. Finally, Parcel No. 3 represents the small lakeshore lots that are approximately 100 feet long and • generally have a 0 -75 foot zone and a 75 -250 feet zone. This particular parcel is approximately half an acre in size. Under the current ordinance, this parcel would have two zones, with essentially no hardcover being allowed in the 0 -75 foot zone. Up to 3,723 square feet would be allowed based on the area in the second zone, which would be the maximum amount of hardcover allowed on the lot. In comparing the parcel under the current regulations and under the prescriptive option, there would be no change in terms of what is required. The performance based option takes into account the gross area above the OWHL in determining hardcover. Under this option, the property owner would be allowed 3,353 square feet without additional review and up to 5,589 square feet through an administrative process or 7,824 square feet under a conditional use permit. The performance based option will generally have a smaller amount that would be allowed under an administrative review process. Gozola stated he is looking for direction on which option or components the City Council prefers. McMillan stated under the prescriptive option, she is struggling with including the 0 -75 foot zone in the total lot area. McMillan asked if, under the five tier scenario, Tiers II and III, since they do not have the 0 -75 foot zone, whether their hardcover would be determined on the total lot area. Gozola indicated that is correct. McMillan commented in her view that seems to penalize the landowner and is an unfair piece in the analysis. McMillan stated to her recollection the DNR does include the whole lot area. Gozola indicated they do. • McMillan stated some lots have small 0 -75 foot zones and others have larger 0 -75 foot zones and that is something that needs to be considered. Page 3 of 9