11-23-2015 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

MINUTES OF THE ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING Monday, September 21, 2015 6:30 o’clock p.m. _____________________________________________________________________________________ Page 4 of 10 Wasmoen stated the twin units were 70 to 80 feet wide and very different from what is being proposed now. Wasmoen stated in his view there was a real resistance to that scale of building on the site, and that the issue is where the Metropolitan Council stands on what they would like to see for number of units per acre and being able to develop this in a way that met the feedback that was given at the Council meeting. Berg stated in her view 12 units on this piece of property is too much density. Berg stated she also does not feel they should go on Kelly at all and that everything should go out to Shadywood. Berg stated due to this property being so close to the intersection, no one is going to go out on County Road 19. Berg stated she knows what it is like to get out from Lydiard, and that what is going to happen is they are all going to go down Kelly to Lydiard, which will bring all sorts of traffic into the neighborhood. Berg noted the Planning Commission had a big discussion earlier in the evening about children and safety. Berg stated Kelly Avenue is a short cut during the summer when people are backed up at the stoplight. Berg stated in her view that needs to address. Wasmoen stated only the residents themselves would have access through the gate. Berg stated if there are 24 units and everyone has two cars, there would be 48 more cars coming into this neighborhood. Berg stated over and over it has been said that that was too dense for this property. Berg stated she would locate more homes on the Shadywood property and that she just does not understand why they are looking at 12 units on the residential piece. Wasmoen stated they are going with the three units per acre because it is a requirement of the Metropolitan Council. Wasmoen stated the amount of density was discussed as well as the ability of their client to develop the property to the best use when they met with Staff. Wasmoen stated they need to get to an economical number of homes in order to have a homeowners association and make the development work. Wasmoen noted he had originally shown 32 units on the first sketch and that he has decreased it to three per acre. Wasmoen stated in terms of Kelly, he would not have put the curb cut there, but that when they sit down with the fire marshal, he is going to ask why the street does not go through. Wasmoen stated he felt the gated access would alleviate the traffic concerns.