11-23-2015 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING Monday, September 21, 2015 6:30 o’clock p.m. _____________________________________________________________________________________ Page 9 of 10 that there would be no rezoning of that property and that it should be single-family dwellings. Fredrickson stated the Council further said that it should be single-family one acre, which would be three single-family homes. Fredrickson stated they are now asking to construct 12 homes on that area. Fredrickson stated based on that prior feedback and for them to now ask for 12 is ridiculous and insulting. The City Council voted against it and now everyone is back here again at 11:15 at night talking about the same thing. Fredrickson stated the City Council said they felt that the density of 2.7 units per acre was inconsistent with the lower density of the neighborhood and the development of twin homes would be incompatible with the single-family residential character. Now what is being prosed is 24 units on 4.3 acres, which is a density of .18. Fredrickson stated before it was 3.75 units per acre and now it is .18. Fredrickson stated the new proposal is now twice as dense as the first proposal. Fredrickson stated Mayor McMillan did not say she wanted a lot of starter homes. The reference to the Metropolitan Council is also not true. At the City Council meeting, they talked about the Metropolitan Council, but it was in reference to housing for people who cannot afford housing and access to places to shop for groceries and drug stores. Fredrickson stated the kind of people that would be interested in that type of housing will not be shopping at Lunds since everyone knows that store is expensive. Fredrickson stated the Metropolitan Council is not talking about that kind of density for this area and that they are talking about the Highway 12 corridor and not Navarre. Fredrickson stated the applicants should quit kidding around that the Metropolitan Council is trying to bring in cheap housing in this area and that they should leave Kelly Avenue alone. Fredrickson stated if they want to talk about the new project, they can, but that they should leave Kelly Avenue alone because the residents will fight this. Fredrickson noted 30 feet is the width of this room and that they are proposing 30-foot houses. Fredrickson stated they cannot squeeze 24 houses on this land and that 30-foot homes would not fit in with the rest of the neighborhood. Fredrickson stated they are proposing three, four units on an acre, and then act like they took the residents and Council’s feedback. Fredrickson stated the only reason they are here again is for a return on investment for Mr. Delaney. Fredrickson requested they leave Kelly Avenue alone, noting that the City Council has spoken.