03-29-2021 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, March 8, 2021 6:00 o’clock p.m. _____________________________________________________________________________________ Page 19 of 23 City only gets credit for 3. He does not know if changing and making a whole new zoning district makes a whole lot of sense right now. Johnson asked if the City Council’s guidance to the Applicant is to do whatever they want within what it is guided for. Printup noted there are still water issues. Johnson replied the Applicant still has to meet all those, the Council does not have to grant any cooperation or variances. Walsh said this is part of the whole conversation with water access through Long Lake and they will not let anyone get water through there at this point. He thinks Long Lake is obligated to on this site, as there is an agreement; that would be a lawyer fight. Crosby clarified they would be getting the water from Long Lake? Seals replied yes and she does not think they will give Orono the water. Walsh said even though they are obligated to, that would just be a fight…although it is a fight they could have. Printup noted that is a good point and years ago Long Lake said they did not have the capacity. Olson stated that is the wording on the contract: “if” they have capacity. Crosby said the negative side is Orono is not trying to push for more density, they have already said the density will go along Highway 12, so they want to minimize density. Walsh said if they are going to see it, he would rather see it more on the low end on the 3 where that is all they get credit for in the guidance. There is no reason to double it. If the Applicant came back with 3 versus 6, he would probably be more apt to look at it, but the fight on even getting access to water would be an issue. Johnson clarified it is each building so that is 6 units. Walsh said there are 10 in there right now but it is 1.7 acres so that is 6 per acre. Crosby said Walsh is talking about 3 buildings. Walsh replied if they have it guided for 3, there would be 5 units instead of 10. He thinks the guidance from the Council would be if the Applicant came back with 3 units which is the low end of the guidance, he thinks the Council would be more willing to work with that. Then obviously, they have to figure out the storm water and all that, but from a density standpoint that would be it. They should also know there will be a fight on the water issue. Barnhart confirmed storm water management must be on site.