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Item 8 <br />To: Chair Thiesse and Planning Commission Members <br />Dustin Rief, City Administrator <br />From: Jeremy Barnhart, Community Development Director April <br />Date: 16, 2018 <br />Subject: #LA18-000024, City of Orono Text Amendment: <br />Definitions Public Hearing <br />Application Summary: The city is considering an ordinance that would add or amend <br />definitions applicable to the zoning ordinance. <br />Staff Recommendation: The Planning Commission should consider the proposed changes to <br />definitions. <br />Background <br />Definitions form the foundation of interpreting and applying zoning ordinance regulations. <br />Through the course of applying these regulations, it becomes evident that the definitions need <br />to be reviewed and when necessary, updated, to reflect community goals. <br />Staff has identified 7 additions or amendments to the zoning ordinance definitions. These nine <br />are still being reviewed, and additional changes may be introduced as review continues. The <br />Planning Commission is asked to give additional feedback, formal recommendation will be <br />requested in April. <br />Animal Unit: Amended definition. Occasionally, staff is asked to identify the number of <br />alpaca, goats or pigs that equal an animal unit. Animal unit is useful in determining the <br />number of farm animals per acre. <br />Building Height: Amended definition. The change proposed removes the height <br />calculation based on the location of the highest window, which does nothing to impact <br />mass, which building height is intended to address. <br />Building cornice. New definition. Building height calls on the location of a building <br />cornice in certain roof types. Building cornice isn't defined. <br />Dry -buildable. Not currently defined. Dry buildable is useful in determining the number <br />of lots possible given a particular property, and is necessary in preparing subdivision <br />plans. <br />Dwelling. Amended definition. The change is intended to clarify the difference between <br />renting a couple of bedrooms (allowed via the rental licensing program) and a second <br />unit of bed, bath, kitchen, and living areas, which is not. <br />Family. Amended definition. Intended to clarify the difference between one and 2 <br />family dwelling units. <br />