10-10-2005 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION Monday, September 19,2005 6:00 o’clock p.m. Bremer indicated she also is in agreement with the comments of Leslie, but that she does have some questions for the parking consultant. Bremer stated the Planning Commission is only able to deal with the application that is before them tonight and not the overall possible future development of this area. Bremer commented historically the area of Navarre has not seen a lot of redevelopment and that in her opim'on this expansion is right for Navarre. Bremer stated in her opinion once an application is pending, a law cannot be imposed on that application and would be subject to the laws that exist at the time the application is submitted. Bremer stated the moratorium is important in her mind but that it does not apply in this situation. Bremer stated she would be in agreement with increasing the heigh! of the back wall to eight feet if that would help address the noise concerns. Bremer stated the parking problem cannot be ignored but in her view it is not enough to stop this application fiom going forward to the Council. Jim Benshoof, Benshoof & Associates, stated the basic question of parking adequacy is very valid and that there are three ways to approach that question. Benshoof stated one approach is to ask whether this proposal makes sense, and the second approach is to ask whether the parking study addresses the current and future parking needs of the area. The third approach would be to rely more specifically on a code review. Benshoof indicated he would be able to speak to that question, but he would prefer to speak to the intuitive approach to the parking. Benshoof stated according to City Code, this expansion would require 63 spots. Benshoof stated the peatest demand for parking from this establishment is in the evening hours and that the study demonstrated at peak demand times that the Narrow’s Saloon would require less than half of the parking that is available in the area. Benshoof stated in his view this expansion does make sense in terms of the paridng. Benshoof reviewed the peak demand times for parking for the Narrow’s Saloon and pointed out that their study does account for an increase in the park-n-ride of six parking stalls as well as an increased PAGE 11