04-16-2001 Planning Commission Minutes

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING APRIL 16,2001 (#01-2667 Richard Anderson,Continued) rezoning was arbitrary and capricious. As a result the City was ordered to rezone it back to commercial in 1967. As part of the 1975 City-wide rezoning,the site again was rezoned to residential based on the directives of the Comprehensive Plan, claims that access to the site was dangerous for vehicular use, increased commercial use would intensify the traffic hazard, and the marina is surrounded by residential uses. In 1977, the construction of a dry-stack boat storage system began on the site. An agreement was reached with the City allowing construction of a pair of two-tier, 24 space storage units without roofs, and a storage height for the second tier of boats not to exceed 15 feet at the deck line of the stored boats. The storage units were originally constructed to contain a third tier,but did not have a roof. In 1984,the property was rezoned again to B-2 Lakeshore Business District, as it is today, and at that time permits were issued for the service building and for the roof on the dry stack units. In 1994, Rich Anderson, current owner,purchased the marina. Since 1988,the LMCD has been licensing all 72 of the dry stack spaces for boats intended for lake use as opposed to boats"for sale", "Waiting for service", "company boats"or other boats not owned by customers for on-demand launching. The Applicant pays annual LMCD license fees for the extra 52 spots even though he is not currently utilizing them. Gaffron stated the Applicant has over the years made a number of improvements to the site. The Applicant is working with City Staff to continue his landscaping improvements and has expressed a willingness to improve stormwater management facilities on the site in conjunction with a long-term site renovation plan that he is planning to bring in later this year. Gaffron stated the North Shore Marina has more than adequate space available for parking to serve the dry-stacking needs as well as the slip customer needs. Orono's ordinances require six parking stalls per ten boats,plus eight additional spaces for the service/retail component of the business. Total required parking is 103 spaces. City Staff feels there is sufficient parking for the current use and requests that the Applicant submit an updated parking and landscaping plan. Gaffron indicated the Applicant is only requesting a change to the number of storage units that may be utilitized on the site and not any other improvements at this time. Gaffron stated the Applicant has indicated he intends to continue to improve the property and is willing to work with Staff on these issues. Anderson stated he did count the number of parking stalls available on his site and arrived at 106. Gaffron stated the City at this time does not have a formal parking plan for 106 spaces. Gaffron stated the City would require the approved landscape plan be adhered to, with the possibility of additional landscaping being added in conjunction with this request. A revised, updated parking plan is also required. Gaffron reiterated that the Applicant does have enough room available for parking to accommodate the additional storage units but would need to provide a formal parking plan to the City. Gaffron stated the Planning Commission would need to address issues relating to traffic, drainage, and impact to the neighborhood. PAGE 12