11-20-2000 Planning Commission Minutes

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING Monday,November 20, 2000 (#2631 ZONING CODE AMENDMENT, Continued) • interim basis with the ability to develop not only the site in question but it also gives the City the opportunity and a method for dealing with some of the other sites within the City that have been reguided for multi-family housing. Gaffron stated Staff will be reviewing in the future the way the zoning districts and the PUD code is set up. Pat Grayhill,Attorney-at-Law, commented he has concerns regarding this ordinance amendment since it may impact their development and they have not had a chance to review it to see how it would affect their project. Gaffron indicated this ordinance amendment will also be discussed at the upcoming City Council meeting. Gaffron noted Orono's City Ordinances do not require a first or a second reading of the ordinance. They require a review by the Planning Commission, a recommendation, and then a review by the City Council. Richard Flint, Council Member, commented in his view there should be a height restriction in the ordinance amendment. Gaffron stated height is measured by Orono's Code for a peaked or a pitched roof uses the average of the highest gable. It also says on the ground end, especially on a sloped lot, you look at either the high side of either the highest point where the ground abuts the building or ten feet above the lowest point wherever the ground hits the building, whichever is lowest. 41110 Hawn commented in her opinion there should be some guidelines contained within the ordinance to give some guidance to developers and to members of the Planning Commission and City Council. Hawn stated her personal preference would be to see the height expressed in stories rather than feet because it will give more leeway in terms of design. Gaffron commented most stories are typically ten feet in height. Mayor Jabbour stated due to the reguiding of some areas of the City,this ordinance is needed to help address the issues raised by multi-family housing. Jabbour noted this zoning ordinance deals with other sites within the City and should be considered a city-wide ordinance rather than being specific to one particular lot. Stoddard commented the proposal for the senior housing facility has prompted this zoning code amendment. Stoddard noted the City Council has approved the new Comprehensive Plan which identifies some areas within the City that are ripe for rezoning and could be utilized for life cycle housing not available elsewhere in Orono. Nygard inquired what the local fire department is capable of handling in terms of height of the structures. Gaffron stated the fire department has ladders that reach up to 28 feet. Gaffron noted the City currently has houses that exceed 28 feet in height. Gaffron stated height is not necessarily a limiting factor but it is an issue that needs to be discussed. • PAGE 21