11-14-2005 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, October 24,2005 7:00 o’clock p.m. White moved. Acting Mayor Santcvcrc seconded, denying the rear yard setback and hardcover variance requests for the residence located at 1860 Shadywood Road. VOTE: Ayes 3, Nays 0. 7. #05-3152 BORLAND DEVELOPMENT ON BEHALF OF JAMES D. MACKINNON ET AL, ‘*3500” WATERTOWN ROAD - SKETCH PLAN: RESHIENTIAL PRD PLAT Acting Mayor Sansevere asked the applicant whether he wished to table the application until more members of the Council were present to hear his application. Bohland stated that he would prefer to be given comments or have a dialogue with the inresent members at this time. Gaffron explained that the applicant proposes to subdivide a 17 acre vacant parcel to create 6 single-family rural residential lots. After an initial plan was reviewed by the Planning Commission, the applicant developed ‘clustering’ concept to allow for preservation of views in accordance with the Rural Oasis Study results. This revised concept was reviewed by the Planning Commission and included a new private road extending 700’ northward from Watertown Road with private septic systems and wells serving the 6 lots all located in the NW quadrant of the property. Although the application is incomplete due to the lack of septic testing and design reports, Gaffron indicated that it was brought forward in order to identify significant issues which the applicant must address, and to gain Council insight whether the PRD ‘clustering’ concept should move forward. Gaffron pointed out that a major difficulty in rural clustering is the need to identify individual septic systems; therefore, it is inqierative that individual lots have adequate area for primary and alternate septic sites. Furthermore, Gaffron noted that where the lot sizes are small as to limit the ability for amenities such as pools, tennis or sport courts, etc. it would be prudent to establish covenants as part of the subdivision process. Gaffron presented several issues for consideration, including, whether or not the Council supports the concept of a PRD development for this site, on the basis that the PRD would allow development of substandard lot sizes in the rural zone; does the Council support creation of substandard, unsewered lots in the rural zone to accomplish the intent of Conservation Design in meeting the City’s ‘Rural Oasis’ goals for this property: and thoughts regarding limitations on future development. Murphy stated that he was unsure how he felt about giving up other things in order to meet the conservation design elements as presented here. He questioned why the lots were laid out as virtual squares on this interesting topographical site. Bohland stated Uut he was driven to lay out the lots in this formation due to access though character of each lot will be realized as development begins and the topography is taken into account as each home is placed on its specific lot. He noted that tliis is a beautiful piece of land and the actual designs will vary from the simple sketch plan seen here. It is because this is such a beautiful piece of land that Murphy emphasized the need to be extraordinanly careful in moving or grading the site and losing its true character. PAGE 4 of 13