08/17/2015 Planning Commission Minutes

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING Monday,August 17,2015 6:30 dclock p.m. Byrnes stated he would like to go on the record and state that they do not oppose the development of Mr. Jacobs' properly and that they believe this will be a fantastic addition to the community. Mr. Stedman and his team have been very accessible and willing to work with the residents. Byrnes stated their challenge is the disruption that this will cause to the residents of Fo�chill, which is one of the older neighborhoods in the City. The homeowners association was incorporated in 1966 and many of the homes were constructed in the early 1970s. There are 16 school-age children in the area. The neighborhood is going through a transition currently but it consists of 1-acre lots on a very private road. There is a hill that overlooks the bluff and down into the woodlands and the marsh. Byrnes stated the challenge is not the development of the property but the use of Heritage Lane as the entrance for the construction. Byrnes stated in his letter he asked for the City to consider vacating the land between 1000 and 1005 Heritage and deed that property back to the homeowners and require Mr. Jacobs to find an alternative entrance to those homes. Byrnes stated assuming the City will not vacate that land because it has been platted since the early 1960s as an extension,the residents would ask the City to find an alternative construction route. Byrnes stated there has to be a way to mitigate the construction traffic that will severely impact this neighborhood. The residents worry about the safety of the children. The cul-de-sac is used daily by the kids as a kickball court, scooters, and people coming and going from various places. Byrnes stated it is very difficult to turn out onto County Road 15 and that it is an incredibly dangerous road at peak times of traffic. Byrnes stated if there are dump trucks and cement trucks lined up that need to get out onto County Road 15,that will infringe on the residents' lives and their obligations. Byrnes stated there has to be an alternative route for the construction traffic. Byrnes reiterated the entire neighborhood supports the development but the issue is to find an alternative way to get the construction traffic in and out. Byrnes noted these will be very large scale homes and that it will likely take two years plus to build each home. As a result, it could be a five to six year project. Byrnes stated it is an enormous impact to the neighborhood and the magnitude cannot be totally understood at this point. The residents would ask for the City's counsel and guidance to find another construction access point. The residents also have concerns about the joint use docks and accessing docks on Smith and Tanager Bay. There are concerns regarding the entrance, the monuments, and the landscaping. Byrnes indicated the homeowners association will reserve judgment on that and that they will work with the applicant on those. Byrnes stated with him tonight are eight members of the homeowners association and other residents who have concerns as well. Byrnes stated the homeowners association also opposes any kind of a common trail going from the Dakota Trail but that they can work with Mr. Stedman and the City later on that item. Byrnes stated they were surprised to hear that recommendation from Staff. Dennis Libby, 1000 Heritage Lane, stated their property is located directly across from the city-owned access and their longest lot dimension abuts the Jacobs' property. Libby stated in conjunction with their direct most immediate neighbor,they are the two that are the most directly affected by the City's use of what it already owns and the access into the Jacobs' property. Libby stated in his view they face the most dramatic changes that incorporate the loss of a significant amount of tree canopy. Some of the trees Page 32 of 43