Laserfiche WebLink
MINUTES OF THE <br />ORONO CITY COUNCIL/PLANNING COMMISSION <br />JOINT WORK SESSION <br />• Monday, March 26, 2012 <br />5:00 o'clock p.m. <br />McMillan stated if they go to 25 percent and include the 0 -75 foot zone, the City needs to be serious <br />about side setbacks and structural coverage. If we do include the 0 -75 foot zone in the overall area, they <br />will be allowed more hardcover. <br />Gaffron commented it would depend on the lot. With the typical half -acre lot, 25 percent of the 75 -250 <br />foot zone usually equates to approximately 17 percent of the whole lot. If you include the area in the <br />0 -75, that would result in approximately 25 percent hardcover overall for the lot. Depending on the shape <br />of the lot, the 75 -250 foot zone could be pretty small and you could end up with a number of variances. <br />McMillan stated if the 0 -75 foot setback is included, the City will need to adhere to the side setbacks and <br />limit the number of side setback variances that are granted. <br />Gaffron stated if you get rid of the two -tier concept and you instead have a percentage of the whole lot, <br />that is simplification people will understand. <br />Bremer commented there will still be variances required on some lots even under the new ordinance. <br />Bremer stated she looks at the role of the City as being good stewards of the property. <br />Loftus asked if the task force looked at what is expected from the new DNR rules and if that is what <br />prompted Staff to look at a performance option. <br />• Gozola stated the DNR provides communities with options and you can set a threshold at 25 percent or <br />you can have performance based. The performance based option helps the City achieve more of their <br />goals. <br />Loftus asked if the DNR decides that 15 percent is now the magic number, if the City would be required <br />to go down to 15 percent as well. <br />Gozola stated he is not aware of that unless it would be legislatively controlled and that generally <br />communities allow 25 percent. <br />Bremer stated if the legislature mandates something, the City would need to follow it. <br />Gaffron noted the legislature now requires the City to allow construction on small lots. Gaffron stated he <br />is more concerned with the small lots that are located off the lake since it is a question that the City does <br />not have a good answer for. Gaffron stated in his view they would still have the ability to require a <br />variance and say that no hardcover is allowed in the 0 -75 percent. <br />McMillan noted most cities allow 25 percent for the entire lot. <br />Gaffron stated it becomes a question of massing. Gaffron.stated the 15 percent structural coverage may <br />need to be done away with for certain categories of lots. <br />• Bremer noted a 1,500 square foot house is not a very big house. Bremer stated she has a concern with <br />people constructing large detached garages closer to the lake. Historically the City has looked at detached <br />garages as an issue and that a lot of people have constructed a detached garage in addition to their <br />attached garage. Another concern that needs to be taken into account is when you allow people to build, <br />Page 5 of 9 <br />