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MINUTES OF THE <br /> ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION <br /> Monday,July 15,2019 <br /> 6:30 o'clock p.m. <br /> 7. LA19-000053 CITY OF ORONO,AVERAGE LAKESHORE SETBACK DISCUSSION, <br /> 7:56 P.M.—8:30 P.M. <br /> Barnhart stated this item is intended to be a discussion on the City's average Lakeshore setback and will <br /> likely be discussed at a work session. The average lakeshore setback was established in 1992 and was <br /> intended to protect the views of lakeshore property owners. Typically,the average lakeshore setback is <br /> established by the location of the principal structures on the neighboring lakeshore lots but there are some <br /> exceptions for lots adjacent to right-of-way or vacant lots. <br /> The City recently observed a situation where the average lakeshore setback didn't realistically protect a <br /> lakeview as the setback line prescribed by ordinance went through the neighboring principal structures. <br /> Another example is an average lakeshore setback where it goes right through the house. <br /> It is Staff's belief that the following are the goals of the ordinance: <br /> 1. Preservation of lake views. Is it the City's intention to preserve a 180-degree view shed,free of <br /> structures or reasonable views of the lake given inherent development densities? <br /> 2. Accommodates various unique circumstances,including meandering,concave/convex shorelines, <br /> and peninsulas. Is it the City's intent to preserve views for homes that are set back more than 200 <br /> feet from the lake? Should there be a maximum average Lakeshore? Is it the City's intent to <br /> preserve views where the homes are orientated over another's property? <br /> 3. Clarity. Any resulting regulation should be understandable for the average citizen. This often <br /> precludes numerous exceptions. <br /> To date,no public comments have been received. <br /> Planning Staff requests direction on how to proceed. This direction will be provided to the Council and <br /> both will be used to develop regulatory solutions for future consideration. <br /> McCutcheon asked if the common rule is 75 feet from the lakeshore. <br /> Barnhart indicated he looked at Mound and Excelsior and most of those communities have some <br /> regulations to preserve views. Mound does not. Victoria uses a 150-foot setback to preserve the views. <br /> The other cities have similar regulations. <br /> Chair Ressler opened the public hearing at 8:11 p.m. <br /> There were no public comments relating to this application. <br /> Chair Ressler closed the public hearing at 8:11 p.m. <br /> Barnhart noted Staff did not notice this as a public hearing. <br /> Ressler stated he would like the ordinance to be written so it is understandable by the average person. <br /> Some of the issues might be mitigated if an average of two or three neighboring properties is taken into <br /> consideration to help understand where that line is represented. Ressler stated one example is of a <br /> Page 1 of 3 <br />