Laserfiche WebLink
MINUTES OF THE <br />ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING <br />Monday, April 13, 2015 <br />7:00 o’clock p.m. <br />__________________________________________________________________________________ <br /> <br />Page 18 of 40 <br /> <br />(7. #14-3686 JOHN BESSESEN AND TOM WASMOEN ON BEHALF OF DAVID <br />DELANEY, 2500 KELLEY AVENUE continued) <br /> <br />Levang stated she would like them to retain the wonderful qualities of the site and the rural character of <br />the neighborhood. Levang stated she is opposed to the townhouse concept and that they could look at a <br />cottage concept. <br /> <br />Wasmoen stated he appreciates all those comments and that they are willing to work with the contractor <br />to protect the existing foliage on the site. Wasmoen stated the areas would be protected with hurricane <br />fencing and that there should be plenty of room for staging during the construction process. Wasmoen <br />stated they have no adversity to staggering the units and possibly reducing the size of the units. <br /> <br />McMillan stated under a PRD, they would be able to construct smaller footprint homes and keep the <br />conservation easement. McMillan stated the Locust Hills development is an example of that. McMillan <br />stated people who want to downsize do not want to have to do a lot of yard work and that she personally <br />likes the cottage concept. <br /> <br />Wasmoen stated their first concept plan was similar to that, and once that was shot down, they went in a <br />different direction. <br /> <br />McMillan stated the Council is looking at three acres of buildable and that she does not remember exactly <br />what the other concept plan depicted. McMillan stated she would like the discussion to be open and for <br />the developer to explore all options for this site. McMillan stated she has a concern with the large <br />buildings and that the neighbors are also reacting to the institutional look of a twinhome development. <br /> <br />Wasmoen asked if there can be eight units on the site. <br /> <br />McMillan stated she is not able to say that at this point and that she is not sure exactly how much dry <br />buildable land is available. <br /> <br />Wasmoen stated the darker piece on the overhead is the wetland area and that there is approximately four <br />acres that is dry land. <br /> <br />McMillan stated there are also road issues that will have to be addressed. <br /> <br />Wasmoen indicated they are thinking of making the development as pedestrian oriented as possible, and <br />that if they are able to do the Shadywood connection, that would be a fairly flat area. Wasmoen stated <br />they unfortunately are limited in their ability to make the Shadywood connection at this point. <br />McMillan encouraged the applicants to take another look at other options. <br /> <br />Walsh stated in his view this is a great neighborhood and that he purchased a house that was more family <br />oriented. Walsh stated he knows when he has a commercial building next to residential, they do not want <br />anything to do with each other and that there needs to be bushes and fences hiding it. Walsh stated <br />having a road going through a commercial area might not be ideal for residential either. <br /> <br />Cornick stated there seems to be a total disconnect between the developer and the neighbors as far as what <br />information is being presented to them. Cornick stated if the applicant is ever going to be successful with <br />this project, they will have to regain the confidence of the neighbors. <br />City Council Meeting April 27, 2015 Page 20 of 257