12-06-2021 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

MINUTES OF THE ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION Monday, November 15, 2021 6:00 o’clock p.m. _____________________________________________________________________________________ 3. LA21-000066 ZONING TEXT AMENDMENT: SECTION 78-72 LOTS OF RECORD Staff presented a summary packet of information. City Planner Curtis said the City is proposing a text amendment which would remove the 25% hardcover limitation applied to development and redevelopment of lots of record within Tiers 2-5. In 1992, when the City codified the original Shoreland Overlay District regulations using the DNR draft ordinance, they were allowed to take a departure from the standard 25% hardcover limitation by maintaining our already established graduated zones of increasing percentages based on the distance from the OHWL. At that time, the City was applying 4 zones of hardcover limitation: 0’ – 75’ setback from the OHWL no hardcover was permitted (except for the DNR-approved exceptions); within the zone between 75’ and 250’ from the OHWL, a maximum of 25% of that area was permitted to be hardcover; between 250’ and 500’ from the OHWL, 30% of that area was permitted to be hardcover; and between 500’ to 1000’ from the OHWL, a maximum of 35% of that area was permitted to be hardcover. In 2012, the City’s hardcover regulations were restructured after a study to simplify the regulations for homeowner use and the City assigned each property to a Tier based on their setback distance from the OHWL. The Code currently requires that development of any non- conforming size property requiring variances would also be subject to lot width and/or area variances depending on the lot size. She noted the Planning Commission has seen instances for lot-width or lot-area variances on an existing lot to put on a deck and it does create a difficulty for property owners. Ms. Curtis noted Staff is proposing this amendment and she walked the Commissioners through text and language changes. Chair Kirchner opened the public hearing at 6:47 p.m. Chair Kirchner closed the public hearing at 6:47 p.m. Ressler moved, McCutcheon seconded, to approve LA21-000066 Zoning Text Amendment: Section 78-72 Lots of Record. VOTE: Ayes: 5, Nays 0.