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MINUTES OF THE <br />ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING <br />Monday, August 24, 2015 <br />7:00 o’clock p.m. <br />_____________________________________________________________________________________ <br /> <br />Page 10 of 13 <br /> <br />Walsh asked if the 4-unit townhouse would be rental or whether they would be owned by individual <br />owners. <br /> <br />Gonyea stated he has not gone through this process before but that he envisions they could be lots that <br />could be purchased and built by Habitat for Humanity or another similar organization. <br /> <br />Printup asked if the 4-unit structure is being driven by Metropolitan Council numbers or a request by the <br />City of Orono. <br /> <br />Gonyea stated at the last meeting they talked about how this property is guided for higher density and that <br />if it is going to be reduced in density to something like three to four units per acre, the Metropolitan <br />Council may want to see an affordable component to the project. <br /> <br />Printup stated he does not want it to appear like it is being squeezed in there if they don’t have to. Printup <br />commented he is okay with the layout, but that the four-unit being put in just because it might satisfy <br />something that is unknown at this point is not something he is comfortable with. <br /> <br />McMillan commented she is not sure whether four more units would really make a difference. McMillan <br />stated she personally would like to see some diversity in the home sizes. <br /> <br />Gonyea indicated he could place some of the product on a colored drawing to depict the footprint better <br />rather than simply showing it as a box. Gonyea indicated the homes will appear to be varied more <br />simply by virtue of the fact that the roads curve. <br /> <br />Walsh stated the setbacks are important, and once the homes are constructed, it cannot be changed. <br />Walsh stated a 5-foot setback does not really allow for much. <br /> <br />McMillan stated she would like to see the cul-de-sac on the north side be made smaller but that might not <br />be possible. <br /> <br />Gaffron stated a T-intersection might be an option rather than a cul-de-sac. <br /> <br />Gonyea stated the cul-de-sac was more to address school buses and emergency vehicles. Gonyea stated <br />it also provides variations in front setbacks once the cul-de-sac is removed. Gonyea indicated he is okay <br />with either option. <br /> <br />McMillan indicated she is okay with the temporary cul-de-sacs. McMillan stated as far as the playground <br />area, she does not want it to trigger some type of homeowners association and that she would rather do <br />without it if a homeowners association is required. McMillan noted there is a park area located across the <br />street. McMillan stated that is an item that can be worked out later. <br /> <br />Gaffron stated typically when there is a pond like this, the Watershed District will require a declaration <br />for maintenance, which tends to create a homeowners association. Gaffron stated the homeowners <br />association could be created for a minimal number of elements of the development, such as a <br />neighborhood park or pond. <br /> <br />Gonyea asked if it would make sense for someone from City Staff to contact the Metropolitan Council to <br />see if this is something that would be allowed.