04-27-2015 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, April 13, 2015 7:00 o’clock p.m. __________________________________________________________________________________ Page 17 of 40 (7. #14-3686 JOHN BESSESEN AND TOM WASMOEN ON BEHALF OF DAVID DELANEY, 2500 KELLEY AVENUE continued) Wasmoen stated the issue was not that Mr. Bessesen was lying but that it was kind of closing out the evening, emotions were high, and in the end the landowner said that is not what he wants to do. Wasmoen stated the City has also encouraged them to look at this as a transitional property. McMillan stated in her view there is some market potential for what is being proposed, but that she is struggling with the size of the buildings and the massive visual look that will have. McMillan stated she is not excited about either the residential or the twinhome option. McMillan stated at the intergenerational forum as well as other times she hears a lot of talk about how people want small houses and that they do not want a townhouse. McMillan stated people have said they want a very efficient, smaller sized home that is below $700,000. McMillan stated in her view there is a huge demand for that. McMillan stated she does not know if this is the right site for twinhomes, but that she does have a concern with having four massive building sites on this site. McMillan stated this might be an opportunity to construct some smaller sized homes that would have a lower impact. Wasmoen stated their very first proposal was for a townhome with more units but it was spread over the entire site with smaller footprints. Wasmoen stated this unit can be narrowed and reduced in size but that they are working with where the market is for the single-floor living area. McMillan stated the City Council has to be concerned with the long-term value of a development and that the City is getting an enormous amount of single-family homes above $700,000 on two acre lots as well as smaller lots. McMillan stated she is having more and more people telling her they would like to downsize to a smaller sized house that is new rather than fix up an existing house. At the same time the Metropolitan Council is telling Orono they would like three units per acre for sewer. McMillan stated the natural areas and wetlands limit that density, but if Orono is going to use sewer, they have to have higher density, which is the new reality. McMillan noted the Metropolitan Council does not have two acre lots in their planning anymore and are requiring three units per acre whenever possible. McMillan stated back in the 1970s, the Metropolitan Council had projected Orono as having a population of 37,000 if Orono was going to be sewered. Orono now has 7,700 residents. The Council decided to go with two acre and private septic. McMillan stated if you invite sewer in, it invites density, and that she has been hearing more and more people say they do not like living with septic systems and that they would prefer city sewer. McMillan stated the City has to figure out how to do it smartly. Wasmoen stated another option would be a staggered unit, which would break up the mass. Wasmoen indicated they will study the footprint size and see whether staggering will help. Wasmoen stated they are interested in creating something that everyone will be proud of. Levang stated she is very concerned about the integrity of the neighborhood and that she does not feel high density belongs in this corridor. Levang stated in her view it belongs on County Road 19 but not on Kelly Avenue. Levang stated she would like to see a plan with single-family homes that have a smaller than 4,000 square footprint. Levang stated she would also like to see something that is more affordable as well as exceptionable and that this is an opportunity for him to come to the community with something that is exceptionable and outstanding. City Council Meeting April 27, 2015 Page 19 of 257