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ORONO JOINT PLANNING COMMISSION <br />& CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION <br />Wednesday, March 2, 2011 <br />5:30 o'clock p.m. <br />_____________________________________________________________________________________ <br />  <br />  <br />Page 5  <br />  <br />   <br />standards. <br /> <br />Gozola stated area two deals with soffits. Soffits that are in excess of two feet have historically been <br />considered hardcover but that the following are issues that are raised periodically: <br /> <br />-Surfaces under soffits are typically not hardcover; <br />-Surveyors are ostensibly being asked to verify a point above ground on as-built surveys; <br />-Limits architectural styles and roof types; <br />-Is there any desire to see this changed if it can be justified. <br /> <br />McMillan commented in her view the City should lighten up on some of the hardcover regulations and <br />that she personally feels bigger roof overhangs should be promoted more since they help keep water away <br />from the house. <br /> <br />Rahn stated at the time it was discussed, it was felt that anything over two feet would be considered <br />hardcover but that the property owner could have whatever size overhang they wanted. <br /> <br />Gaffron noted the Council did look at that but never came to a final decision. <br /> <br />McMillan stated she personally would like some leeway on that since it affords some protection against <br />water coming into the house. <br /> <br />Franchot commented that is probably one of the items that appears arbitrary to the residents. <br /> <br />Curtis stated that item was made more consistent in the last few years with the City's nonencroachment <br />regulations. <br /> <br />Franchot stated the method the City follows sometimes appears to be arbitrary, which has been a <br />complaint raised in the past by applicants. The City should look at it in the context of how it can be made <br />less arbitrary, which would also help ease the burden on Staff. Franchot commented there needs to be a <br />good balance between how that is accomplished and the City’s goal of clean water, etc. <br /> <br />Curtis stated typically the surveyors do not denote things above grade, which creates some issues for <br />Staff. <br /> <br />Theiss stated if the goal of the City is to have good infiltration of water, a two-foot overhang provides the <br />ability for the ground to absorb the water; whereas an eight-foot overhang prohibits water from <br />infiltrating the ground near the house. <br /> <br />Rahn pointed out they are not limiting the design but rather the hardcover. <br /> <br />Gozola stated the third area is whether the City should regulate all properties in the City. Current <br />regulations seem to ignore non-shoreland areas unless they are zoned industrial, RPUD or PRD. While <br />there are "lot coverage" regulations affecting all properties within the City, it appears current hardcover <br />regulations are limited to the shoreland district, industrial district, RPUD district, and PRD areas. It <br />appears that nonshoreland areas which are not in an industrial, RPUD or PRD district do not have <br />hardcover requirements. <br />Item #03 - CC Agenda - 03/14/2011 <br />Approval of Joint Planning Commission & City Council <br />Work Session Minutes [Page 5 of 13]