12-09-2002 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO PLANNING COMIvnSSION MEETING Monday, November 18,2002 6:30 o’clock p.m. a) a narrower exposure of the west facade ■ ^ b) (mtside below grade landing and steps would be required to enter/exit the walkout door; a short retaining wall system would be necessary to retain walkout window exposures. Or perhaps the windows should be replaced with windows that are not so low to the ground, and the grade be brought back up against the house where it was originally c) maintenance of the restored steep slopes may require special attention 2) An option worth considering would be to allow a narrow walkout corridor at an elevation that would drain to the lake, i.e. the width of the walkway path. This would be similar to what existed prior to the grading work, but 2-3’ lower in elevation. 3) Does the Planning Commission agree with the general concept of retaining walls in the 0-75’ setback zone for this property, or should grades be changed to minimize the need for walls? Gaffron reminded the Commissioners of the CMP, Section #3 A, Urban Area Policies for Natural Resource Management which reads that “Retention of natural vegetation will limit the impact of urbanization as visible fixim the lake”, and further defines natural resource management. Gaffron acknowledged that preservation of the lakeshore bank as it has long existed may in fact require retaining walls of some sort, be they wood timbers, boulders, keystone blocks, etc. However, other methods for maintaining the shoreline might be possible, including vegetative plantings, for example. Gaffron maintained that more intrusive methods^ * * ensure no future slump of the lakeshore bank would entail a wholesale reshaping of the shore with a gradual slope from the house to the lake incorporating layered fabric. He reminded the Commission, that this method would not be in keeping with the goal of preserving the character of the shore. While staff would prefer that the shoreline restoration be completed as soon as possible, Gaffron felt that staff was not in a position to recommend ^proval of this plan due to the PAGE 23 of 28