11-08-1993 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

To: From: Date: Chairman Schroeder and Orono Planning Commission Members Ron Moorse, City Administrator Michael P. Gaffron. Assistant Planning & Zoning Administrator August 6, 1993 Subject: Ordinance Amendment - Definition of Lot Width/Flag Lots - Public Hearing List of Exhibits A - Staff Sketch - Hypothetical Example For Discussion B - Plat Map Examples C - Staff Memo 6/16/93 Background Based on the historic definition of lot width (measured at the rear of the front yaru ), non-lakeshore cul-de-sac lots and flag lots have always required a lot width variance. ^However, for lakeshore lots, which had no "front yard", but only a "rear yard" and lakeshore . staff as a matter of policy measured lakeshore lot widths at the street setback line and the lake setback line. The definition of lot width was revised when the Shoreland Regulations were adopted to require that lakeshore lots meet the required width only at the shoreline and at the lake setback line. This eliminated the need for variances for most lakeshore cul-de-sac and flag lots. However, the Lake Use Committee reviewed the Shoreland Regulations merely in the context of cul-de-sac lots and the issue of lakeshore flag lots was not coa^idered. Since the City in recent years has generally moved toward creating dtiveway outlots rather than flag lots, the shoreland lot width definition resulted in an unanticipated inconsistency. Application /I'1825 on Old Beach Road, was the first lakeshore lot subdivision the City has dealt with on a General Development lake since the Shoreland Regulations were adopted. Both Planning Commission and Council members expressed a concern that while the creation of flag lots had not been allowed anywhere under the prior code, the new shoreline regulations did not continue that policy. Planning Commission recommended denial of the application based on hardcover issues having to do with the driveway within the narrow platted corridor. Council subsequently directed that the issue of lot width for lakeshore lots be studied, since the> were not aware that flag lots would be allowed ur<der the new regulations, and asked for time to reconsidered the code requirements, and pos>ibly amend the code if that seems appropriate. A 90-day moratori"m was adopted for subdivisions proposing flag lots. Use of Flag Lots The Flag lot might be defined in a numler of ways, but is not currently dctined in the zomng code One 'finition might be: "A lot typically separated from a public or private road bv another lot and which gams access to the public or private road via a narrow com or tyVicallv 10' to 50’ in width, which is pan of the flag lot". Another way to look at it is t t