10-11-2021 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION Monday, September 20, 2021 6:00 o’clock p.m. _____________________________________________________________________________________ Page 1 of 2 3.LA21-000062 DON GAMBLE O/B/O KIM EDWARDS, TRUSTEE, 2480 CARMAN STREET – ZONE CHANGE CONCEPT REVIEW (STAFF: JEREMY BARNHART) Don Gamble, Applicant, was present. Staff presented a summary packet of information. Barnhart noted the proposal involves policy change. The person representing the properties at 2474 and 2480 Carman Street is requesting feedback on a potential zoning change from a mix of LR-1C-1 and LR-1B to LR-1C. The main difference is in the LR- 1B district the minimum lot size is one acre and the minimum width is 140 feet. The Applicant is proposing LR-1C which allows a half-acre minimum lot size and a one-acre minimum width. If these properties are zoned LR-1C, these parcels could be subdivided in creating 4 parcels. The hang-up for the City Council has been creating a non-conforming lot as part of a subdivision and historically the Council does not allow that and held firm with this project. The main change will be a new or additional lot and potentially 2414 Carman could also be subdivided. Barnhart clarified this is not formal approval or a public hearing but Staff is looking for some feedback. Kirchner understands that one lot with two zoning districts does not provide clarity. He also does not believe the resolution is to change these and make them into non-conforming lots as that does not better the situation. Barnhart said by rezoning this, all of the properties will be conforming. Kirchner’s understanding is if they were to be subdivided they would then be non-conforming. Barnhart clarified in changing the zoning district to LR-1C or LR-1C-1, they could subdivide that into 4 pieces and they would be conforming. All properties are zoned residential. Ressler believes that is reasonable. Kirchner agreed. Gettman said in looking at public benefit, he does not see the public benefit to rezone all four parcels; it is already a tight lagoon and he does not see an advantage in putting two more houses there at the water access. The Commissioners discussed access points for the lots. Libby is comfortable with this and noted they would still have lots that are significantly bigger at one-half acre than neighboring lots in the area. Don Gamble, 10704 Water Lily Lane, Woodbury, Applicant, noted he grew up in Orono and his family home on Shoreline Drive just sold. He said this has been a slow-moving project and they are hung up on the front two houses having non-conforming lots and there is no way to take land from the back and give them an acre. He said the only way to get them conforming is to get the zoning conforming with the neighborhood. Casco Point is LR-1C-1 all the way around, and no one knows why there is a difference in zoning. To be contiguous and uniform, the LR-1C also makes those front lots conforming. He explained in taking land from the north lots and adding those to the south lots, they ran into the problem in creating a shoreline that is not 140 feet wide. City Council Exhibit B LA21-62