03-16-2003 Planning Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING Monday, May 19,2003 6:00 o'clock p.m. (#4 #03-2885 GEROA AND LD TOTH, Continued) Mrs. Killian at 1300 Spruce Place, back to the drawing board with the recommendation to get the hardcover to 25%. It seemed ^parent to Rahn that the Council would like the Commission to low the line on the 25% hardcover requirement. Although no vote w as taken, the Council gave the impression that the application would have been denied rather than tabled, if the full Council were present. Although Haw n had been present at the past Planning Commission meeting during which the Commission gave the applicant misdirection, she believed now that they should try to hold them to 25% hardcover in order to avoid a simila' problem at the Council level Since there was little hardship which demonstrated the need for more than 25*o hardcover. Chair Smith was hesitant to send them forward with 30% Mr. MacDonald argued that the evening’s discussion was a reversal from the last Planning Commission meeting. He maintained that, since the full Council was not present at the last meeting, Rahn could not deduce that tlic application would have been denied a greater hardcover vaiiancc. He made a case that the 2 acre zoning district Ordinance in itself imposes a hardship on applicants with smaller parcels. Chair Smith reminded the Commission that the Council had given them clear direction, as of late, to adhere to the 25% hardcover allowance. Althougli she agreed that the new home was beautiful, she acknow lodged the need to hold to the hardcover nuntbers. MacDonald maintained that the City had granted many variances in excess of 25% hardcover over the past several years. Chair Smith admitted that the City does make exceptions when the land warrants it On the other hand, she noted that when new construction, like this, offers little in the way of hoidsliip, they must adhere to the percentages. WTiile she apologized for the misdirection given the applicants the last time, Hawn stated that the Commission would be doing the applicants no favor sending them forward to the Council only to be denied their application. Mr. Toth voiced his disappointment in being vastly misguided by the Commission the last time t).ey met. MacDonald asked for the opportunity to repeat his powerpoint presentation given during the first hearing, since the applicant had gone to a great deal of time and expense to redesign his application to fit within the Commission’s guidelines PAGE 13 of 39