03-14-2022 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION February 22, 2022 6:00 o’clock p.m. _____________________________________________________________________________________ Page 1 of 1 LA22-000002 JIM HILLIER, 1245 ARBOR STREET, SUBDIVISION, SKETCH PLAN. Staff presented a summary packet of information. Mr. Barnhart shared the Applicant is requesting sketch plan review on a proposed subdivision that would subdivide a 0.634 acre parcel into two equal lots. The property is in a two acre zone and each lot is proposed at .14 acre with sanitary sewer and served by a well. Staff does not support the subdivision as proposed primarily because it is inconsistent with zoning ordinance which requires a two acre minimum lot size and 200 feet of frontage and neither lots meet those requirements. The only setback met is the front at 50 feet, the side yard, side street, and rear yard setbacks are non-conforming based on the proposed house pad. Staff is looking for feedback tonight and there is no public hearing. Jim Hillier, 1224 Briar Street, is looking to take what was historically four platted lots, was divided into two parcels, and was then combined into one. They are looking to put it back to the two parcels with two separated PIDs. The history of the neighborhood was 50 feet by 140 foot platted lots, so 80% of the lots in the neighborhood are between 7,000-11,000 square feet. These lots would be roughly 14,000 square feet. In looking at the neighborhood there is a post office, school, art center, and in Mr. Hillier’s perspective it was not designed to be two acre urban estates. To keep it as a larger parcel one would want to put a larger home on it and he does not want to do that, noting he bought the lot next door and built a new home where there was once a dilapidated home. He noted they would like to do the same thing with these two parcels to improve the neighborhood and meet some goals of the Comprehensive Plan which is to create affordable housing, and upgrade older neighborhoods with empty lots. Kirchner understands the overall thought process based on neighboring homes. However he does not think it is appropriate or productive for the Planning Commission to support this as it goes against the Comp Plan and current zoning districts. Bollis asked if this goes against the Comp Plan. Barnhart replied no. The zoning ordinance is consistent with the Comp Plan and the Comp Plan guides the City for large lots. There are certain pockets within the community that have not developed under that goal. In 2018 discussions and review of the Comp Plan this neighborhood was specifically talked about and the potential for changing the land-use for it because of the development pattern. The City Council at that time said no, the goal is larger lots in this area as well, and they elected not to increase density in the area. Ressler thinks the Applicant makes a good point regarding density but the time to have that discussion is when the Comp Plan is updated. He noted they have seen the same thing with the Casco Point area zoning. The Planning Commission does not have the jurisdiction to approve because it is not a sub- dividable lot. Libby shared that these kinds of changes become moot because it is really difficult to approve a sub division where there is already a non-conformity. He thinks it will be an uphill climb for the Applicant. Erickson cannot support this sub division and agrees with Ressler that anything like this should be preceded by a discussion of the Comp Plan. Council Exhibit B LA22-02