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MINUTES OF THE <br /> ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION <br /> Tuesday,January 19,2021 <br /> 6:00 o'clock p.m. <br /> There were no public comments regarding the application. <br /> Chair Ressler closed the public hearing at 7:31 p.m. <br /> Chair Ressler said it seems pretty straightforward,a bit of a housekeeping item, and seem like a good way <br /> to tidy up the code. He asked if anyone is opposed to this change. <br /> Erickson moved,Kirchner seconded,to approve La21-01 City of Orono Text Amendment Related <br /> To Appeals. <br /> 6. LA21-02 CITY OF ORONO TEXT AMENDMENT RELATED TO DRY BUILDABLE <br /> DEFINITION(STAFF: JEREMY BARNHART) <br /> Barnhart said during the course of the review of the subdivision code last fall,a question came up at the <br /> City Council level about the definition of dry buildable. At the time it was 18%and one of the <br /> Councilmember questioned why it is 18%. In a review of the City codes and history they could not really <br /> find any basis for the 18%so the Council directed Staff to draft an ordinance amendment to change it to <br /> 3-to-1 slope or 33.33%. To try and keep things easy to communicate, Staff is recommending the <br /> definition of dry buildable be changed to 30%. The Planning Commission will note it is in two different <br /> sections, one is in the zoning code and the other is in the subdivision code;they will see more of the dry <br /> buildable as it relates to the development of plats in subdivisions than they will in the zoning ordinance <br /> but both sections reference dry buildable as 18%so they are changing it in both locations. Staff does not <br /> see this as a big issue and it will have a potential impact on lots that have marginal or extra steep slopes <br /> where more of those parcels can be used at the calculated dry buildable. However, Staff does not think it <br /> will be a huge issue. <br /> Gettman asked what percentage the neighboring cities are running with. <br /> Barnhart replied he summarized his research in the attachment and he does not recall what others do. Dry <br /> buildable is a relatively unique Orono-ism,other cities have"usable"or something like that,but he does <br /> not know the percentages off the top of his head. <br /> Gettman noted 30%is significant and 18%is a decent slope and he is trying to understand the jump. He <br /> asked if anyone else has any experience as when he thinks about a 30%slope that is really steep. <br /> Barnhart stated part of the argument made during this subdivision review was when Mr. Gronberg,a <br /> surveyor, commented that a slope from the front yard to a walk-out basement is about 23%. That may be <br /> true and they do not apply that level of detail for the zoning review. In subdivisions it will be seen when <br /> they have steep slopes like they saw in the Shoreland Estates project earlier this evening. Barnhart is not <br /> too worried about the 18-30%because they care about dry buildable if one can fit a house site and septic <br /> locations. Regardless of the slope,the septic locations follow their own regulations so it is really a <br /> question of what the City is comfortable allowing and the Council suggested 30%is fine. <br /> Gettman said it is basically an arbitrary number. <br /> Page 26 of 28 <br />