Laserfiche WebLink
MINUTES OF THE <br /> ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION <br /> Monday,June 15,2020 <br /> 6:00 o'clock p.m. <br /> Kirchner asked if a simple Restraining Order could be applied for to prevent further development or <br /> construction on the site to stop the process. He stated that may be another avenue to pursue if there is a <br /> concern that taking the language out gives the City no leverage/opportunity to do something. Court- <br /> ordered Restraining Orders happen sometimes in civil cases, and a judge could bar any further <br /> construction/development until different criteria are met or a Court date is set. <br /> Barnhart noted that could be done regardless of what the document says and that it has happened in Orono <br /> and it was not that long ago. <br /> Bollis asked if"cul-de-sac"could be defined. <br /> Barnhart stated they could try and thought they did. He said he knows they had that definition in the <br /> language. There isn't a really good one, but he thought there was one in there. Most of the time when you <br /> see a definition of"cul-de-sac,"you'll see the"turnaround"that is a key component of a cul-de-sac. That <br /> doesn't quite get Staff where they want to go, because the Fire Code allows a hammerhead-style <br /> turnaround, which is great for the Fire Code, but not necessarily for Staff's purposes, so he added the <br /> word"circular"turnaround.There are requirements in terms of radius and things like that in the code; <br /> they have added that. <br /> Bollis said he sees that is the Minnesota cul-de-sac definition, but the City has changed it to say"circular <br /> turnaround"instead of"appropriate terminal." <br /> Barnhart said City Staff does not want an "approved turnaround,"they want a"circular turnaround."For <br /> an approved turnaround,the Fire Code allows a hammerhead. He stated there are developers who will <br /> argue for weeks on what the appropriate turnaround is. Historically,the City has required a circular <br /> turnaround;the language codifies that. <br /> Kirchner asked if there was a definition of"circular turnaround" as far as the dimensions and things <br /> Barnhart was referencing. <br /> Barnhart stated if you look for the definition of"cul-de-sac,"you do not see the word "circular,"you see <br /> "appropriate terminal." It could be a circular turnaround; it could be a hammerhead; it could be any <br /> number of things. In his experience,what works for the Fire Department,who may need a turnaround <br /> once every five years, does not necessarily work for the garbage truck who needs it weekly, or the FedEx <br /> truck that uses it almost daily. They put"circular"in the language for those types of users. <br /> Kirchner asked if there are specific dimensions outlined somewhere that reference back to what a circular <br /> turnaround is, dimension-wise. <br /> Barnhart stated the dimensions are in the subdivision code. <br /> Bollis said he would be in favor of the language being the State definition, "appropriate terminal." He <br /> feels if the City is making people go through the conservation design process,there is a great argument <br /> that a hammerhead or a"Y"is better for the environment than a circular cul-de-sac, and so it should say <br /> "appropriate terminal"for that piece of property. Otherwise,there is hardly a point of making Applicants <br /> go through all the design process if they are not picking the piece that is appropriate for that property. He <br /> does not think a circular turnaround is the answer for every piece of property in Orono. <br /> Page 13 of 19 <br />