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. are close to 100 years old and the loss of those trees will be a dramatic change in how the end of the cul- de-sac appears and will impact how the residents enjoy the neighborhood. Libby noted he was a professional real estate broker for 30 years and that he dealt with numerous and similar projects and developments over those years. From a personal and professional opinion, Libby stated the potential use of Heritage Lane and, in particular,the cul-de-sac extension as a primary construction traffic route is shocking, beyond poor judgment, and far in excess of the capacity of the existing thoroughfare. Libby stated moving the primary construction traffic route to the Jacobs' property is not only sensible as an alternative but it is one that will be the least disruptive to the least amount of Orono residents. Libby stated he has a high amount of respect for the design architects on this project and that he has a high regard for Mr. Stedman's professionalism and reputation, but they have raised an objection to the use of the Jacobs' property as an alternative route due to the bluff topography of the Jacobs; property. Libby stated he has been involved with similar challenges to developers who have designed and who were very successful at using switch back and temporary elevation alterations to allow the extremely heavy weight loads the lengths and widths of the excavation and delivery truck type materials to do the job of development and construction. Libby stated in his view the human safety element of heavy truck traffic and the risk hazards to local foot and driving traffic within a mature neighborhood setting should be self-evident. Libby stated you can add to that the daily physical movement of materials, construction workers,the idling and parking and the waiting of vehicles that will not be able to maneuver in a bidirectional route on Heritage Lane due to the limited existing street width. Libby stated this intrusive, impractical and outrageous inconvenience to the health and balance and synergy of their neighborhood is terrible. The residents will be exposed to diesel fuel e�aust, braking noises, and asphalt surface damage that are intrinsic to this type of development and the residents' health and should always be avoided. Libby stated he is nearly 70 years old and his wife will be 75 in August. Like numerous long-term residents in this neighborhood, Libby stated they had planned to age in place. This project is really unacceptable and a rude interruption to those plans. Libby stated if they eventually must embrace several new neighbors conversing the Heritage Lane neighborhood, so be it, but that he would please ask that the Planning Commissioners recommend to abandon the potential use of Heritage Lane as a construction route for this development. Libby stated he would also like to provide an additional research piece for review by Staff and the Planning Commission. Leonard Dayton, 1980 Heritage Drive, stated he is not and never have been affiliated with the homeowners association. Dayton stated he wants to say that Mr. Jacob's professional advisors have done a thorough job and that he would commend Mr. Byrnes and Mr. Libby in their messages. Dayton stated he would ditto preriy much everything they said and that he wants to go on record that he is in agreement with the position of the homeowners association. Dayton stated he hopes the Planning Commission respects what it is the residents are asking for here. Matt Mithun, 1160 Heritage Lane, stated he is part of the homeowners association. Mithun stated they have three children and that safety is a major factor. Mithun stated a person has to be in the neighborhood to see how it operates but that it is a very intimate neighborhood. Mithun stated this project will be a very Page 33 of 43