03-08-2021 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION Tuesday, February 16, 2021 6:00 o’clock p.m. __________________________________________________________________________________ 8. LA21-000011 JASON FISCHER AND KARA HONEBRINK, (3416) 3420 SHORELINE DRIVE, CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT (STAFF: MELANIE CURTIS) Jason Fischer, Applicant, was present. Staff presented a summary packet of information. Curtis said the Applicants are the owners of Lulu’s Pizzeria, a delivery and takeout restaurant in Navarre and are requesting a conditional use permit (CUP) in order to expand the existing restaurant into an adjacent vacant space in order to enlarge their kitchen and prep space and add some take-and-bake cooler space. There is no dine-in service at this restaurant; restaurants are conditional use in the B1 district and a conditional use is required to expand the restaurant into this new space. The expansion will also add a new employee breakroom, coatroom, office, and second restroom, in addition to a small retail space. The customer entry will move to the Shoreline Drive side and the existing western entrance off the parking lot will serve as the driver delivery access. City code states that restaurant use requires at least one parking space per 80 square feet of public restaurant space. The existing restaurant requires three spaces and with the proposed changes the existing public space will primarily be used for delivery ins and outs but may still be accessible to the public for takeout pickups, and there is a restroom available in that area that is a handicap area. The additional space requires 4 parking stalls for a total required of 7; the customers will park in the private lot to the west in 5 spaces or with available on street parking. Applicants have identified 5 parking stalls for customers and parking location in the rear of the building down the stairs in the back for employees and overflow. The lower-level parking lot and adjacent public parking lot will also provide additional overflow. The Applicant has provided a narrative regarding the parking which is in the packet, she has not received any public comments as of today. Planning Staff recommends approval of the CUP to facilitate expansion of the restaurant into the adjacent vacant space as proposed. Bollis asked regarding the existing space they are taking over, what is dedicated to that space as it sits today. Curtis replied she does not know the conditions of the parking dedication as far as what is available on the private lot space. The Applicant has summarized who parks where and what is dedicated to whom. The City parking lot does not have specifically allocated spaces per uses. Bollis asked if that space is conforming as retail right now to the parking, or do they just not know. Curtis said she has no idea. If Ressler recalls, one thing to note about that space whether it is part of the property or not, there is adequate parking on the street, as well as some parking out back, and that is certainly helpful as part of the deliberation. Curtis said it is relatively unique that they have a small parking lot dedicated just to their use. Jason Fischer, Applicant, approached the podium. He addressed the question regarding parking and said there are 12 additional spaces behind the building and those are not specific to any one tenant in the building so it is parking available to essentially anyone. As Curtis mentioned, they also have the City lot behind that; therefore, they have 5 dedicated spaces for the existing business, street parking off Shoreline, and 12 additional spaces in the back of the building, and the City lot beyond that. Generally speaking, customers are in and out within a couple of minutes, they try to do curbside as much as possible for customer safety. Mr. Fischer said they are proposing to expand into the vacant space to add additional