03-25-1996 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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minutes of the ORONO planning COMNflSSION MEETING HELD ON FEBRUARY 20, 1996 (#2 Proposed Zoning Amendment - Continued) Rick Keemon, a board member of the Orono Baseball Association, said he sees the facility as a community and multiple use facility and as a community issue. He noted the need for gymnasium space for spring practice and other community activities. Schroeder said he understood this but said the debate was over land use, the specifics ot which will take care of the facility and the neighbors' perspective Zee auain questioned the acreage needed to build such a tacility and whether the parcel w'as treated as one or separate lots. Mabusth said the 4+ acres must be legally combined with the school property and that the residential code only requires 2 acres for a permitted or conditional use Grabek commented that the arena was a large building placed in a large acreage with alot of setbacks from the roadw ay and open space He saw the approach as being different than that of a school. Grabek said he is concerned with the aesthetics from Hwy 6 noting it would appear to be more commercialized than what is expected in a residential zone or school area. He felt these issues should be answered before proceeding ahead with any amendment or variances. Zee said the neighborhood meeting was successful. He said the issues discussed were hours of operation, the wetlands, noise, parking, road improvements. He noted the concern over finances, and if any such problems arose, questioned whether the tacility would be used in the middle of the night. Lindquist asked if any issues were resolved to the neighbors' satisfaction. V'^ee said a sketch plan was viewed but nothing was resolved Lindquist said the Commission was looking for a win-win situation. Vee said there were a broad number of questions and hurdles to go through before any resolutions could be made. Lindquist asked when the Hockey Boosters expect to have answers or resolutions to the issues that have been voiced. Engebretson said the agenda for the neighborhood meeting was only a start in the process. The plan is to submit a complete application in March with another meeting with the neighbors early in March to address their concerns Enuebretson noted the association needs the neighbors' approval tor the project to be successful. Lindquist said he would have to be satisfied that the issues brought forward by the neiuhbors were resolved before he could recommend any approval. Engebretson said he agreed noting they were working on those concerns. Lindquist said he was not comfortable voting on the issue until the issues were resolved. Engebretson noted the need to respond to a time frame The fimd raising was based on being able to provide information to those willing to contribute their support Lindquist responded that he understood that concern but was responsible for looking at all ot the issues. Mabusth advised many of the specific concerns raised by neighbors are more typically addressed in the conditional use permit review- 15