10-25-2021 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, October 11, 2021 6:00 o’clock p.m. _____________________________________________________________________________________ Page 7 of 9 17. LA21-000062 – DON GAMBLE O/B/O WARD E. EDWARDS AND DONNA EDWARDS (2474 CARMAN) AND RA EDWARDS ET AL (2480 CARMAN) – CONCEPT REVIEW Staff presented a summary packet of information. Barnhart noted this is a concept review of a potential policy change as the Applicant is proposing to rezone the property. The City Council previously looked at configurations that would create a buildable site south and north of the lagoon creating four lots total. The City Council consistently said they were not comfortable creating non-conforming lots and the challenge has been that south of the lagoon the minimum lot size has always been 1 acre. One portion of land is about .7 acres and the other is less than that but more than .5 acres. The Applicant is proposing to rezone the block of parcels to LR-1C which is a half-acre zone with a 100-foot frontage width for a lake lot measured at the lake and 75 feet back. Doing that would allow 2474 and 2480 Carman to be split into two conforming lots. Barnhart noted the question is whether the City Council would be open to a formal application for a zone change. He noted it is fairly consistent with how Casco Point Road has been developed. From a planning perspective, Staff does not see a huge issue with how it is proposed. He noted the Comprehensive Plan says it is low-density residential and is compatible with how it is currently zoned and with the LR-1C zoning district. The City Council looked at the 1-acre lots and ½-acre lots on screen. Don Gamble, 10704 Water Lily Lane, Woodbury, stated the confusing part is how it was zoned in those two different zones. Looking to the west and all the way around the point it is all LR-1C (1/2 acre) until it gets to this point and it goes to 1B with the back of the lots still being 1C but everything south being 1B. He noted changing the zoning does not change the densities, rather they just become conforming with the neighborhood and the density around it. Mayor Walsh would like to see it conform with what is there – he could take the two orange lots and make them one, split off the two lots and then they would all be conforming with current zoning. Mr. Gamble noted it is two separate owners and it seems to him that the zoning is off. Jeff Jarnes, owner of 2470 which is just to the west, asked if they rezone this does it negatively affect his property in any way? He does not think it does. His understanding is the way it is zoned is to have one house right now, therefore this zoning change would make it able to have two houses. He wants to be sure it would not be three properties. The City Council replied no, there would not be three. Mr. Jarnes stated the south shore of the northern lots is all wooded with deer and he noted they do not want to have one driveway down the middle with multiple units in there. Mayor Walsh noted Barnhart was looking for feedback on the issue. FINANCE DIRECTOR REPORT Finance Director Olson updated the City Council on building permit activity for new homes noting in September the City was a bit lower than previous two years but with total permits the City is right on target. They are currently at 85% or $359,000.