06-16-1997 Planning Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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ORONO PLANKING COMMISSION MEETING FEBRUARY 19, 1991 (#1)ZONING FILE #1619-WHITEHEAD CONTINUED Kelley stated that the City has been under more pressure to develop substandard properties. He said, "The position of the Planning Commission has been that we are not going to give into those pressures and we will not grant Variances for subdivisions." Rowlette added that she was concerned about the access for Lot 4 coming directly onto Lyman Avenue. Whitehead stated that he would like the record to include his written comments to Mike Gaffron's February 14, 1991 memo, and the City's Transportation Plan, as well as any photograph he may take of the road. There were no further comments from the public and Kelley closed the Public Hearing at 8:03 p.m. He asked Mr. Whitehead if he would like the Planning Commission to act on this application or table it to provide an opportunity to revise his plan. Whitehead replied, "I would like the Planning Commission to act on this and state their reasons so w.* have something with which to work from. At this point I have no guidance. I have no idea v;hat this Planning Commission thinks about the alleged Variances, which we deny are needed, or ever are Variances. I have no idea where to go. I am not accepting that we need to go to three lots because we comply with the Zoning Code. I think you need to make your decision. Obviously, if we v/ant to come back with a three-lot plan, we can do .hat. I do not want to be tabled in limbo with no guidance from the Planning Commission, which is where I sit right now. I have no way of even sitting down and negotiating with Staff given the current status of your record." Rowlette stated that the three-lot conceptual drawing provided by Staff was more acceptable because it eliminates most of the issues involved with Mr. Whitehead's proposal. She said, "This plan would allow Lyman Avenue to remain the unique country road that everyone likes. The three-lot plat makes a lot of sense. Just because you have enough land to create four two-acre lots, does not mean it will work." Whitehead said, "The Planning Commission has a lot of discretion. They can either take arbitrary views, or they can try to work with people to make things happen." Bellows said, "Mr. Whitehead is asking us for guidance. I believe we have clearly stated that we want the road to be improved and will not consider anything without it. Further, our preference seems to be that if you would go to the three-lot subdivision, where Variances would not be required for any lots, that v;e would then consider a subdivision of this property." t 4 - 7 -