01-12-2010 Council Work Session Minutes

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Orono City Council Committee of the Whole January 12, 2010,6:30 p.m. Orono City Council Chambers c. Continue Urban area (MUSA) development pattern at low densities consistent with current zoning o Identify areas of new or redevelopment that will provide acceptable levels of density or offset the lower density development. o Create zoning regulations that account for lower density development areas without the "penalty" estimates at the low range. o Develop strategies for reducing the baseline land area such as conservation easements on large lots. o Negotiate the policy requiring use of the low-end of the density range. ■ At some point, conservation easements will be identified on GIS system. ■ Dayton parcel is the only large parcel (40 acres) remaining in the city. The Dayton family is very supportive of land conservation. d. Connect existing large-lot homes to sewer without offsets on as-needed or as-requested basis. For example, if a house was built prior to 1985 and has no alternate septic site, it could qualify for sewer. Charlie Kelley's neighborhood is good example. The neighborhood will be doing an analysis of alternate septic sites and could potentially meet the criteria to be exempt from density calculations. If so, the neighborhood could be brought into the MUSA without causing density problems. o Reiterate the Met Council policy and write into Orono's plan. e. Avoid requirement for concurrent offset development at higher densities when sewering lower density homes. f. Allow extension of sewer to developed rural area neighborhoods which meet Met Council criteria for exemption from inclusion in the density calculation, i.e. failing septic systems • Other issues of Council concern: o Comforts of Home—other cities have been allowed to count density for similar development. Land isn't guided for assisted living, it is guided for high density. o Total unit count—to meet Met Council projections for 2030, the city must accommodate 95% of the projected change in number of units between 2010 and 2030. The city should clarify that all units count,with no discount/penalty for unoccupied households. Every unit in the plan counts. o Ways to add to housing count—mixed use categories can be an effective tool in increasing unit counts where redevelopment in commercial areas is an option; i.e. downtown Navarre. Although the city currently doesn't have any mixed used zoning classifications, it may want to consider establishing a mixed use zoning district. ■ Land use designations for redevelopment and mixed use do not need to coincide with current market realities. Although the current market may not support mixed use development, the city may be able to accommodate higher unit counts and higher densities with emphasis on later staging periods, such as 2020-2025 or 2025-2030. o Bremer stated the main goal is to get the Comp Plan Update approved. o Council directed staff to invite property owners with larger properties to a work session, including those owners of property that may be reguided. • Other comments related to the Comp Plan o Common Bond has been scheduled for a presentation at the next work session. The developer has asked about the status of an appraisal of the city property. An appraisal has not been ordered. Common Bond would also like input regarding development, such as one building vs. several small buildings and if there is a specific density to achieve. o The public hearing for last Comp Plan was at the High School auditorium. Council may want to hold the next public hearing at the Freshwater Center, probably in February. Page 2 of 4