10-10-2005 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, September 26,2005 7:00 o ’clock p.m. Sansevere stated that, according to the neighbor ’s letters, they do not agree that this design will fit into the character of the neighborhood or the land itself. Broitzman stated that City Code allows him \5% structural coverage on his property, of which he has only proposed about 7.5% McMillan stated that, though the formula works to his advantage, she felt he was overdeveloping the lot. Furthermore, similar to the County, she stated that she, too, would like to see the driveway access ofTHeritage Drive as opposed to County Road IS in an effort to minimize the curb cuts on the county road and would make this part of her recommendation. Broitzman stated that he brought in the County for their opinion for a second driveway off Heritage, not a replacement for the one off County Road IS. He stated that, from what he understood of the codes, he could not be forced to change the existing driveway. Murphy stated that he had spoken to and received a letter from Mr. Nelson, a neighbor, who felt he was misled by the applicant, as were many other neighbors who felt they were told numerous different stories. Murphy stated that he could not support moving this amount of dirt to create or overhaul this piece of land to suit the applicant’s desire for walkouts. Mayor Peterson commented that she was disturbed by the way the applicant had raped the lot of trees and its history and found it difllcuit to support a lot width variance for something so expansive and out of character for the neighborhood. White pointed out that the purpose of the zoning code is to implement the comp plan. Aesthetics and what is appropriate to fit in with the character of an area makes up a piece of the comp plan. In addition, the comp plan is designed to protect what the city holds dear which is the character and stability of a neighborhood, as noted by the adopted Rural Oasis Study. He indicated that he would not support altering the appearance, in bulk, for something that he felt failed on every count of the Ordinance that he could identity with regard to the compatibility of the neighborhood.