06-14-2021 City Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday,June 14,2021 6:00 o'clock p.m. 22. LA21-000028-CITY OF ORONO TEXT AMENDMENT RELATED TO SIGN REGULATIONS—Continued Johnson moved,Seals seconded,to approve LA21-000028,City Of Orono Text Amendment Related To Sign Regulations as noted.VOTE: Ayes 5,Nays 0. 23. LA21-000034—REPRISE DESIGN OB/O BROOK INVESTMENT GROUP,LLC,3423 SHORELINE DRIVE—SKETCH PLAN Barnhart presented a summary packet of information.The Applicants are seeking non-binding feedback on a proposed sketch plan that would create one new commercial site for a potential drive-through business. If a plat is approved,then any permitted use can go within that new lot;if it is a drive-through business initially,that could change. Based on the review of the subdivision which is an existing lot and a new lot,the lot meets the area and width requirements for the zoning district.However,once they split the lot,Lot 1 will likely exceed the lot coverage in hardcover limits because most of the front area is paved for parking and most of the back area is also paved for parking. There will likely be some need for variance on both lots due to the nature of how the shopping center has developed over the years. Mayor Walsh noted it is all paved now so they are not adding hardcover. Barnhart stated no,they are just removing the lot area. Some of the Councilmembers may recall there used to be a gas station on this lot and that clean-up finished 20-30 years ago. The Planning Commission reviewed this in a public meeting but it was not a public hearing,and the City has since received a letter of comment from a neighboring property owner.The subdivision and any variance will require a public hearing. The Planning Commission was a bit concerned with the traffic backing up from the drive- through onto the street. Walsh noted it would be quite a ways to have traffic back up that far. Johnson thinks it would be nice to see something there. Barnhart noted the Planning Commission also spoke about potentially developing this as a PUD; Staff will look into that a bit further, and that would require a zone change. Barnhart is not sure what the benefit would be to a PUD,but they can look at that. Corey Englund,Reprise Design 12400 Portland Ave S,Burnsville,noted the Applicant is looking at a coffee shop concept which helps further with the stacking problem as many quick-serve coffee restaurants can turn cars around in 2-3 minutes tops.This is an empty,vacant lot that is occasionally used for fireworks sales and he thinks this is a very,very good improvement of the space.However,it does have some difficulties with the site;there is a retaining wall to the south and east that is really binding them just to the tiny quadrant shown on screen.He thinks it is perhaps a 6 foot drop in grade.He also believes they need a minor setback variance on the east end and the hardscape and structural limitations for the different plots. Mayor Walsh noted they have a drive-through at Culver's right now and there is historically not a back- up there.Plus,in the winter,drive-throughs are beneficial and more convenient. Crosby is comfortable with improving that corner. Page 10 of 13