03-20-2000 Planning Commission Minutes

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ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES FOR MARCH 20, 2000 • (#2567 Walfred Properties, Continued) floor to be utilized as a Snyder's Drugstore consisting of 9,050 square feet, and the second floor being designated for 9,000 square feet of office space, which is intended to be used as a medical office. Weinberger stated the Applicant is proposing a lower level underground parking area to accommodate 25 parking spaces. Weinberger stated currently the proposed drugstore is not a permitted or conditional use in the B-5 District. The Applicant is requesting an amendment to allow a drugstore as a permitted or conditional use in the B-5 District. Weinberger indicated two other B-5 Districts would be affected by this zoning amendment. Variances are required to permit a front yard setback for a parking lot to encroach five feet. The proposed parking area is 15 feet from the property line where the Code requires 20 feet. A variance to hardcover is also required to permit 27,165 square feet of hardcover in the north 500-1000' shoreland setback where 12,896 square feet is allowed, and to permit 5,803 square feet in the south 500-1000' shoreland setback where 3,231 square feet is allowed. A variance to parking is also required to permit 96 parking spaces on the property where 105 spaces are required. Weinberger noted the pond and parking areas are located within what is now City of Orono property known as Navarre Lane. The Applicants have requested to vacate the west half of the undeveloped right-of-way to provide additional land area. Currently the right-of-way is used for sewer, water, phone and gas lines. The Applicant is proposing to relocate these lines outside of the right-of-way. The south half of the east 33 feet of Navarre Lane was vacated in favor of the O'Sullivan property to provide additional parking area. • Weinberger stated the proposed pond will require the Applicant acquire additional land to the east or an easement for ponding purposes. The City Engineer is also recommending the Applicant provide details as to how the pond will be constructed and how it will impact the existing wetland in the area. The pond is designed to handle the runoff from the subject lot and the adjacent property to the east. A requirement at the time of approval of the existing pond was that the pond would be redesigned at the time the church property is redeveloped. The City Engineer has reviewed the drainage and pond capacity and has determined the pond is not designed to NURP standards. Weinberger commented the City's sign ordinances currently do not list B-5 standards. Staff has determined the uses permitted in the district ase consistent with many of the uses in the B-1 district, which permit one square foot of sign space for each square foot of frontage. The total frontage for this property is 380 feet along County Road 19, with the total amount of signage permitted on this property being 380 square feet. The Applicant is proposing to erect several back lit signs that would be located on the building and one monument sign which would be located at the south entrance. Weinberger noted a retaining wall is proposed on the property along the west property line and extending to form the pond wall. Some parts of the wall will be close to 20 feet in height. The exposed portions of the wall would be required to be 12 or 14 feet in height due to the existing topography and grading necessary for the parking areas. Landscaping in this area is being recommended to screen the walls where they may be visible to residentially zoned properties. The Applicant is proposing a natural buffer along the west property line to screen the property and retaining wall. The proposed plan indicates a series of trees along the north property line, with several other plantings being proposed in the green space along Shadywood and in the natural islands in the parking lot. • Page 5