09-14-2020 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION Monday, August 17, 2020 6:00 o’clock p.m. _____________________________________________________________________________________ Page 2 of 6 Ressler clarified that when they’re going through the Comprehensive Plan, they are trying to add density to satisfy the Met Council and he wanted to get up to speed on how that is affected on this application. McCutcheon asked Barnhart if they were to extend the MUSA line, the next time the Comprehensive Plan comes around, isn’t this area more likely for the density to be increased since it has the sewer line. He noted they want to maintain the greenspace and what makes Orono awesome, and said it’s kind of a double-edged sword, but he’d prefer the sanitary sewer over a septic tank, especially in areas where septic tanks aren’t the best choice. He is hesitant about increasing the density number and asked if they extend the MUSA line, the next time they look at the Comp Plan and they have to meet these requirements, are the areas with the sewer looked at first for being able to increase density of the City. Barnhart answered he thinks the Development Committee would probably say yes, but the City Council has historically said no. He said they have drawn a distinction between where the line is and where the density is appropriate. He said the location of the sanitary sewer isn’t the only criteria, they also want to look at the natural environment, access, what is next door, etcetera. He noted they may hear those arguments and still get calls now of where the MUSA is, asking if they can add high density next door to that area. Barnhart’s answer to those questions is whatever the Comprehensive Plan says and usually there is a hard line there. He noted he wouldn’t be worried that because they’ve extended the MUSA, they will automatically have requests to have higher density in those adjacent areas. He reiterated that they do get those questions, but have a pretty strong Comprehensive Plan and they can say no, that’s not consistent with what the land use is, so there are really two parts. Ressler clarified, saying Staff is recommending approval to expand the MUSA for the uses laid out. Barnhart answered yes, and to be equally clear, Staff is not suggesting nor is the Applicant requesting, any increase in density than what would already be allowed there. Ressler said this would not require any modification to existing sewer lines as he understands it. Barnhart answered the proposals connect to an existing trunk line owned by Met Council. Gettman asked if the 4.684 number, they should be able to just divide the 1,008 divided by the 227.2 to get that number. Barnhart answered there may be some other hidden numbers in there, and the table is just a snapshot, there are other numbers that are already served by the MUSA but not connected so it complicates it a bit. Gettman said the reason he asked is at the end of the day, the properties that can afford to have the larger acreage, they want to keep and save that for the ones that can be high density; this seems to go against that and even from the four to five properties, especially when they’re stretching some of the frontages on this property, it seems like they’re really pushing it to get to five properties and that’s what he’s struggling with. Barnhart asked if he means in terms of the preliminary plat. Gettman answered yes.