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MINUTES OF THE <br /> ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING <br /> Monday,February 13,2023 <br /> 6:00 o'clock p.m. <br /> City Administrator Edwards added the Council receives the packet on Friday. If over the weekend you <br /> send the clerk and I an email of any of those particular issues you might have,then we can see if that's <br /> something we can address before the meeting. <br /> Walsh said he would put the onus on Benson to send an email detailing the things she'd like to see <br /> changed or Staff could verify to make sure all is correct. <br /> Benson pointed out the packet is a lot to review in 48 hours but she would do her best.And at the same <br /> time,I understand that perhaps there's discussion in the works about a transcription service.Is that <br /> accurate? <br /> Edwards clarified the City is looking at changing its vendor for managing the meeting recordings and <br /> including closed captioning. He said that's not necessarily a capture of minutes and the problem is that it <br /> is only as good as the software so there can be a lot of inaccuracies.I don't know that it reduces our need <br /> to have somebody who's a professional transcribing and creating meeting minutes for us,regardless of <br /> whether they got some text that way or they have to transcribe from an audio recording. <br /> Walsh moved,Benson seconded, to table Items 1 and 2 and direct Council Member Benson to <br /> interact with staff on the minutes.VOTE: Ayes 4,Nays 0. <br /> COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT REPORT <br /> 16. LA22-000065—TIM& LESLIE OARE,2967 CASCO POINT ROAD,VARIANCES <br /> Walsh reminded the audience that Community Development Reports are not public hearings although the <br /> Council may call on the applicant for information. <br /> City Planner Melanie Curtis explained the applicants and their neighbors purchased the neighboring <br /> Swenson property between their properties with the intent of splitting it and splitting the buildings on that <br /> lot to add to their own properties. The applicants are seeking two variances from the recently-adopted <br /> accessory dwelling unit performance standards in order to maintain the full functionality of the existing <br /> Swenson home to serve as an ADU(accessory dwelling unit)for their home at 2967 Casco Point Road. <br /> Curtis said they have requested variances from the minimum one-acre lot area requirement as well as the <br /> condition for the utilities to be combined between the two buildings. Their property after combination will <br /> be 7/l Oths of an acre in area. The applicant's home was constructed in 2020 and they have new utilities <br /> separate from the Swenson home and they would like to maintain that. In January the Planning <br /> Commission heard this application and held a public hearing. Following the public hearing the <br /> Commission voted four to zero on a motion to recommend denial of the variances. We did not receive any <br /> comments from the public on this application. Staff found no practical difficulty to support the lot area <br /> variance to permit the ADU on the property. The minimum acreage requirement cannot be met therefore <br /> the property does not qualify for the ADU use. Staff recommends denial of the lot area variance for the <br /> ADU. The applicants are permitted to maintain plumbing facilities in the Swenson home with a restrictive <br /> covenant addressing the use as an accessory building with full plumbing facilities rather than a dwelling <br /> unit. She recommended Council direct staff to draft a denial resolution for adoption at your next meeting. <br /> The applicants and the neighbors,the Abbotts,are here tonight. <br /> Page 3 of 16 <br />