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MINUTES OF THE <br /> ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION <br /> Tuesday,February 19,2002 <br /> 6:30 o'clock p.m. <br /> (#02-2755 Long Lake Fire Station, Continued) <br /> Gaffron stated development of the fire station site results in approximately 60 percent of Lot 1 being <br /> hardsurfaced and will require some stormwater ponding. <br /> Smith inquired whether the tower could be further explained. <br /> Gaffron stated the tower is located in the southeast corner of the building. The hose tower height is <br /> necessary for it to perform a number of functions. Its primary purpose is for firefighter training, and <br /> will contain stairways,windows and a door to the roof that will allow for a variety of realistic <br /> firefighting and rescue scenarios to be staged. Its secondary use is to elevate hoses for drying. Gaffron <br /> noted this tower will only be constructed if the budget allows. <br /> Gaffron stated hose towers are sometimes treated as an important architectural design element of fire <br /> stations where the location makes it suitable for use as a clock tower or signature design feature. The <br /> Long Lake Station will be located in a neighborhood setting rather than a"town center"setting, and <br /> reducing the prominence of the tower will minimize its visual impact on the neighborhood. Gaffron <br /> stated the tower is proposed to be 35' tall where 30' is the normal maximum allowed. Its flat roof will <br /> extend approximately 12' above the 23' flat roof height of the majority of the station building. The <br /> 20' by 22' area of the tower covers just under 3 percent of the total roof area of the station and is a <br /> relatively small feature in the context of the overall visual impact of the station. Staff is recommending <br /> that no signage be allowed on the tower and that its façade materials match the rest of the building so <br /> that it does not become unnecessarily noticeable, and the tower itself will not be lighted. <br /> Gabriel Jabbour,Building Committee, stated the exterior materials are similar to the bricks utilized on <br /> the Pioneer Museum. <br /> Smith inquired what impact there would be on the training if the height of the tower is kept to 30'. <br /> Jabbour stated at the present time the sixth bay and hose tower may not be constructed unless the budget <br /> allows for it following opening of the bids. Jabbour stated the committee did discuss reducing the <br /> height of the tower,but noted the costs to construct a smaller tower are higher. <br /> Gaffron stated the issues for consideration by the Planning Commission include whether any other <br /> conditions are necessary other than those proposed by Staff in order to allow the 35' tower; whether the <br /> hardships stated in Staff's report support the granting of the setback variance, and whether there are any <br /> significant impacts of the 40' setback that should be mitigated by attaching specific conditions to the <br /> variance approval. In addition,the Planning Commission should consider whether there are any issues <br /> regarding the proposed plat of the two lots. <br /> Mabusth stated it was her understanding the fire station was to have three acres. <br /> Jabbour stated it is a three-acre lot when the road,ponding, and wetland mitigation are considered. <br /> Jabbour stated there should not be a problem with the setback since the road is 60' wide instead of the <br /> standard 50'. <br /> Hawn noted if the sixth bay is not constructed,the setback variance would not be required. Hawn <br /> inquired whether there were any public comments relating to this application. <br /> PAGE 15 <br />