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MINUTES OF THE ORONO PLANNING COM^^SSION <br />MEETING HELD ON JULY 15, 1996 <br />(#9 - #2154 John O’SullivanErvvin Smith - Continued) <br />Schroeder asked the Council members present if there w^s any long term plan for Navwe. <br />Goetten responded that the original thoughts of planning were dropped after no interest <br />was shown It is her hope that 0’Sulli\ an's other project would encourage other business <br />owners to take part in re\itali2ing the area Schroeder reiterated that there was no grand <br />plan en%isioning a movement to de\ elope a systematic plan for the area Kelle>' said the <br />area will probably not compete with neighboring city areas and saw a need to view it <br />differently Goetten acknowledged that the City has never done any TIF programs <br />Kelley agreed that unless the business owners have an vested interest, any improvements <br />would be for naught Berg added that there were alot of absentee ow nership properties <br />within Navarre Goetten said it w as her hope if the new project w as successful that it <br />would energize the area <br />Gafffon said plans considered but not adopted in the 1988 review included parking to be <br />located in front of the buildings with some multi-family and institutional facilities as well as <br />single and duplexes to the w est Peterson suggested a sub-committee review the area but <br />would not apply to this particular application He saw the proposed commercial <br />development as an excellent choice over multiple housing options He asked other <br />Commission members if the plan w as appropriate for the site <br />Erwin Smith noted difficulty in gaining upgrades in the buildings in the area. O'Sullivan <br />added that with the new restaurant and other buildings, there will be improvements made <br />elsewhere. Coen noted tnat the original O'Sullivans had been refaced Schroeder <br />acknowledged O'Sullivan as a driving force to revitalizing the area O'Sullivan did sec the <br />project as a calJyst for others when new business is brought to the area <br />Regarding rezoning, O'Sullivan commented that the church has been there for many years, <br />and it may be hard for others to env ision anvihing else He said the project at hand makes <br />sense with the neighborhood and its municipal parking in creating a natural flow <br />O'Sullivan said their purchase option for the church property expires at the end of July, <br />and only a short extension will be allowed He said no developer or business will commit <br />to a project without assurances that rezoning will happen Banks have shown interest in <br />becoming a tenant but will not progress further without the rezoning. O'Sullivan said, <br />once the rezoning issue is resolved, the project can be conformed to the code <br />requirements He saw possibilities of clinics, light retail, bank, gift and greeting shops He <br />noted there would be no high intensive use of the property such as video or liquor stores. <br />O'Sullivan said bufter zones would be created. During a meeting, neighbors asked how <br />the property would be accessed and deliveries made Reaction was favorable tr ’/a: pl.'ins. <br />Peterson noted that the majority of those attending walked to the meetings 0'5 "hv v <br />said he has spoken with 80% of the business owners and all voiced favorable opl.iior.s of <br />the project. They also saw no conflicting usage.