09-16-2002 Planning Commission Minutes

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING Wednesday, September 4, 2002 5:30 o'clock p.m. Mabusth stated that is was difficult for staff and the Commission to provide some guidelines on the variance portion of the conditional used permit since they do not have any real facts. She inquired as to how this would be presented to Council next Monday night. Staff stated that the application would not be going to Council on Monday night. Mabusth noted that she thought it was rushing along. Gaffron indicated that the application would be on the agenda for September 23rd Mabusth asked if some updated information would be available for the September 16th meeting. Gaffron stated that we may have information but the applicants won't be present. Mabusth asked if any information would be known by the 16th of September. Shiff stated that they would try to address any specific areas in that time frame. He noted that because of concerns that either the Watershed District, the Planning Commission, or the City would say no, he was reluctant to spend money on engineering and planning. Shiff continued that if they have approvals then they could proceed with the engineering and whatever specific information is requested by staff, Planning Commission, and Council. Mabusth noted that there would be a reduction of hardcover in the 0-75' setback area as a result of the improvement. She asked if there would be repairs to the other trails. Gaffron stated that the plans show two cross sections for lakeside trail improvements, and on document C3.1 it does not define which areas would have a back retaining wall to hold the slope up. He noted that it would be useful to some extent to know which segments would require that type of treatment as one of the recommendations from staff was that in areas where a retaining wall is needed one of the goals has always been to screen retaining walls so they are not visible from the lake. Gaffron went on to say that it would be helpful to know which segments of trail are in areas where the shoreline is eroded up to the trail and where you might have to relocate. He continued that a better depiction would be useful and noted that Planning Commission does not have the detail along that length to know where the impacts would be the greatest. Mabusth agreed that the information would be useful, certainly before Council could make any recommendation. She asked if we would have the information by September 23rd and our engineer would have the chance to review it. Gaffron asked if that would work for the applicants. Mabusth asked the applicants if that would work. Page 3 of 5