10-12-2020 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, October 12,2020 6:00 o'clock p.m. Johnson said that is horse manure. Mayor Walsh stated that is a good question before they even have the discussion. Seals asked why they wouldn't get credit for what they did versus, for example, zoning swamp land for 10-15 units/acre and walk away and never build on it because they cannot. Mayor Walsh suggested creating a new zoning of 6-10 units/acre. Barnhart stated the Council can do that. Mayor Walsh stated then it would be guided for 6 units/acre. Barnhart noted they would need to create a new land-use category of 6-10 units/acre and then create a new zoning district. Johnson said they should've been doing this a while ago. Barnhart stated he did not run a calculation for 6 units/acre, but at 3 units/acre, the City would have to create more opportunity. Johnson noted the next category is 10-20 units/acre, so if they are at 10 it's the same as being at 20, and asked if that is correct. Barnhart replied no, if they are in the 3-10 units/acre group, it calculates as 3 units/acre, if they are in the 10-20 group, it calculates as 10 units/acre. Mayor Walsh said the Council guides it for the Met Council and decides what bucket it falls in. That is why he suggested creating a new 6-10 units/acre grouping. Johnson stated this is the type of housing they want at that location. Mayor Walsh said yes. He asked Barnhart what the location is currently per acre. Barnhart answered it is at 9.5 units/acre. Mayor Walsh said technically they are almost at 10, so if they can get one more unit in. Barnhart stated they would need two more units. Mayor Walsh noted two more units would be 6 across the street and 10 at this location so it is a bit denser, but makes the City not have to go somewhere else to change density. He noted they need to decide if they want 10 units/acre to begin with or if they only want 6 units/acre. Barnhart clarified 3.69 acres at 6 units/acre; the Met Council expects 18 units or so for this property. At 10 units/acre for the 3.69 acres, they'd be looking at 36.9 units. He noted that is the difference, they need to find the 18 spaces or lots somewhere else. This is the reason he suggests rather than opening that potential can of worms, the City allows for 2 more units here, which may likely manifest itself in adjusted setbacks internally and externally, but allows the City to do Page 12 of 24