06-22-2020 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION Tuesday, February 18, 2020 6:00 p.m. _____________________________________________________________________________________ 6. LA20-000003 JOHN NEWELL, 1485 6TH AVENUE NORTH, SKETCH PLAN, 8:01 P.M. – 8:32 P.M. John Newell, Applicant, was present. Staff presented a summary of packet information. Ressler asked for clarification of the conservation design requirement and why the Commission would discuss a waiver in lieu of identifying substantial trees. Oakden stated that she believes it is relatively common on smaller plats like this where only 3 lots are created to identify substantial trees, which are over 6 inches in diameter rather than going through an entire conservation design process. Ressler ask if this is a cost savings as well as an efficiency. Oakden stated that was correct. Thiesse asked if the City had any regulations that will allow it to protect the trees once they are identified. Barnhart stated that what the City looks at with the conservation design requirement includes more than just the trees, such as slopes. He stated that while there isn’t anything in the Code, he gave the example of a stand of significant oaks. He explained that the City could say to the developer that this is an important feature of the lot and should be protected, so the City may not approve a plan that shows a road cutting directly through that area. He gave another example of the conservation design identifying the mature oak in Basswood Forest. He explained that the conservation design is used to help guide the developer in areas that the City is trying to protect from a character standpoint. Ressler asked if the City had reviewed the proposed well and septic plans. Oakden stated that she thinks the applicant has just recently coordinated their septic testing, so she does not think the City has reviewed this yet. She noted that the applicant has received feedback that they have viable septic sites. Barnhart stated that the City is not looking for a final report at this stage, until the City has determined the layout is acceptable, but to just know that there are viable sites. He gave an overview of how the sketch plan process works in this situation. Thiesse asked if there was sanitary sewer in this area around Highway 6. Oakden stated that there isn’t and would connect over on Brown so the applicant would have to explore through private lots in order to connect. Erickson asked if that may be feasible for the southernmost location.