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MINUTES OF THE <br /> ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION <br /> Monday,September 21,2020 <br /> 6:00 o'clock p.m. <br /> Mr. Saddiqui said the only reason he proposed fencing along the North with a gate is because people <br /> prefer that. He noted another way they could address it is with evergreens to create screening. He said he <br /> could look into flipping the buildings and said he's trying to avoid the setbacks and then there is always <br /> the fear of losing more units. <br /> Gettman said looking across the street and to the left of the circle, it is well within the 15 feet. He noted <br /> the perimeter setbacks are sacred for the Commission as opposed to the space between the buildings, <br /> because they're already townhomes. <br /> Mr. Saddiqui said one of the things they've done is to stay in three and four units,as people get more <br /> space, more lights, more windows, and that is what they prefer. He said he would try to look into <br /> possibly flip-flopping the buildings. <br /> Libby said he's familiar with some of the concepts having to do with playgrounds,parks, and in this case <br /> an outlet. He asked if there is any engineering or design rationale that has to do with environment or <br /> safety, kind of sequestering the playground within the neighborhood rather than having it on the outside. <br /> He said he's dealt with engineers regarding that with frequency, especially when there are two <br /> thoroughfares that are quite busy, and noted there are carbon monoxide and sulfur dioxide concentrations <br /> are extremely high at those intersections. He noted it's much safer for children who are outside playing to <br /> be away from that and in the corridor of the neighborhood. <br /> Mr. Saddiqui said it's an excellent question, in his 37 years of doing this work this is the first time <br /> someone has asked it. He stated he would start paying attention to it going forward and haven't done that <br /> particular research with their engineers. <br /> Erickson asked regarding the street width between units, it is 24 feet as shown, and when he looks at it as <br /> a townhome project,the way it is drawn, it looks like there would be 24 feet of pavement. If compared to <br /> residential standards,there might be 24 feet of pavement on a 50 foot right-of-way. He noted outside his <br /> house, he has 18 feet of pavement, even though it's a 30 foot right-of-way, and if he is looking at it <br /> correctly, he thinks"oh wow, it would be nice if he had 24 feet of pavement." He also noticed they are <br /> honoring the 20 foot driveway and that length is good for guest parking and so on. Both of those aspects <br /> of the project look pretty good to him. He also agrees with Libby that an internal playground might be <br /> more marketable in this unsafe world we live in. <br /> Chair Ressler noted right now they're asking questions and asked if they need to open up a public <br /> hearing. <br /> Barnhart replied it's not a public hearing, but they can open it up for public comment if they'd like. <br /> Kirchner shared one thing he struggles with is the setbacks and the density, as it seems they've guided <br /> this to be far more units, and knows they went back to the drawing board, reduced the units and they're <br /> still struggling with the setbacks. Realistically one could drop a large building in the center, meet the <br /> setbacks and go vertical, however historically,the City of Orono doesn't support or appreciate that. He <br /> thinks what the Applicants have done here is trying to find a way to accommodate and still make it a <br /> viable project for them. He also sees some of the concern of being 15 feet off those major roadways. <br /> Kirchner understands it is not official by any means, but he appreciates that the appearance would fit in <br /> with the area, neighborhood and location. He also likes the way it's designed with the rear-load garages <br /> Page 23 of 27 <br />