Laserfiche WebLink
Metadata
Document management portal powered by Laserfiche WebLink 9 © 1998-2015 Laserfiche. All rights reserved.
MINUTES OF THE <br /> ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION <br /> February 21,2023 <br /> 6:00 o'clock p.m. <br /> Bollis said I think it comes back to what was here previously was a seven-tiered timber wall that we don't <br /> know how it was engineered, and it was replaced with what is currently a six-tiered timber wall that we <br /> know how its engineered. That's essentially in-kind.It's a tiered wall that was built to the engineering <br /> specs which are pretty detailed,which I have to believe are much better than what was existing.I agree <br /> with everybody up here. I don't think the process is right at all.But I think we're going major steps <br /> backwards if this has to be removed,I'm saying functionally this is what was there and if they wanted <br /> something different, obviously,they would have had to go through a different process. The other piece is <br /> that seventh wall. If they built that,then it would be more in-kind to what was there. But that's not in front <br /> of us right now. So that we have to vote on is what's here. <br /> Erickson asked if the commission was headed towards a tabling motion. <br /> McCutcheon said he'd take any motion at this point to get going. I think we have two of us that have <br /> spoken out in favor that we've got enough here where I think the existing this retaining system is <br /> workable. <br /> Bollis said we're no longer approving in-kind,we're approving the variance that's in front of us <br /> Curtis said yes, setback variances for the new walls. <br /> Bollis said he was ready to move to approve the variance but he thinks the seventh wall should be built <br /> that was already approved by the City Council. <br /> Ms. Curtis said she would prefer we not design the wall. The Council approved the emergency repair as <br /> an emergency repair, not as a 'you have to build the seventh wall'. Their alternate to the seventh wall is to <br /> increase the height of that sixth wall. She clarified the design had been approved by the applicant's <br /> engineer. We don't approve engineering. <br /> McCutcheon said a licensed structural engineer in the state of Minnesota put forth a design that's going to <br /> work in his eyes.And that's pretty good for me.He said the commission might be splitting hairs to require <br /> the seventh wall. <br /> Bollis said his thought is that we've got a split commission right now.And maybe that seventh wall gets it <br /> more to what was in-kind previously.In my mind that gets it closer to what it was supposed to be.And it <br /> makes essentially the top of that slope what it used to be.But I'm not going to redesign the project, so <br /> we've got to vote with what's in front of us. So would you rather us move to deny?Because it's missing <br /> that seventh wall? <br /> Kirchner said he felt the commission didn't have enough answers because the engineer was not present. <br /> He suggested making a motion with the recommendation that the engineer provide additional feedback <br /> on the width of the wall. <br /> Page 11 of 19 <br />