04-13-2020 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION Monday, March 16, 2020 6:00 o’clock p.m. _____________________________________________________________________________________ Doepke stated there is a stream slightly within the conservation district going from north to eventually southeast on Lot 13 and the withdrawal of the triangle of the conservation area would make the buildable part of Lot 13 closer to the stream, which is closer than Lot 14’s distance from the same stream. He asked how that situation came about. Mr. Hiller explained there is a 20-25-foot drop-off from the street to the stream and a conservation area around the stream for its protection. The area was so close to the building pad that it did not allow for the site to be graded. The change allows the lot to be graded properly. Chair Ressler opened the public hearing at 6:12 p.m. There were no public comments relating to this application. Chair Ressler closed the public hearing at 6:12 p.m. Ressler stated the main consideration is whether this would have been approved had it been in the initial application. If so, the Commission would not have a reason not to accept it. Gettman said he is familiar with the area, and 16,000 square feet is actually ⅓ of an acre, which is minimal. He is not comfortable with any changes, adding that it was a pushed-together agreement that has already upset a lot of people and wondered why the Commission would continue to upset more people. He anticipates the vacated area on Lot 17 being taken over by Lots 16 and 18. He already sees people doing activities like snowmobiling in the area, so he does not see it as being “conserved land.” Bollis echoed Gettman’s thoughts. He is fine with minor changes that make the lots more buildable, but said flipping Lot 17 takes a lot of buffer from North Arm Drive and changes the dynamics. He does not know if it would have been approved originally since he was not present when it was presented earlier. He is fine with the rest of the changes. Erickson stated he recognizes Staff approval, noting the Commission is allowed to recommend approval for all, some, or none of the changes. He said he is in receipt of 3 letters: Mr. Eader suggests he has come to an agreement. Bryce Johnson, who is representing the Citizens for Lakeview Preservation, said he is generally okay with it but hoped any individual issues affecting neighboring houses can be solved to the satisfaction of those involved. Mr. Crandall, a homeowner next to Lot 15, is concerned about the loss of the conservation easement area on Lot 15. He said, keeping those documents in mind, he would lean towards improving the plan with the exception of the Lot 15 loss of conservation area. Libby said he tends to agree with Staff’s evaluation since the proposal has met their expectations. Overall, he looks at this from a highest/best use perspective. He is conscious of conservation, preservation, and restoration, yet the original development evolved into some unforeseen consequences. Land development is complicated and not perfect; moving dirt is very expensive. He felt the proposal was fairly well thought out, but as the process has gone through subdividing land and lots, things happen. He does not see a deprivation; he sees a gain. Doepke stated the trading of land for other land benefits the community overall. His concern is Lot 15, wherein the owner of Lot 10 was expressing an issue about having some of the conservation easement taken away. The letter indicates the issue was satisfactorily resolved. He did not get an understanding