Laserfiche WebLink
MINUTES OF THE <br /> ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING <br /> Monday, May 19, 2003 <br /> 6:00 o'clock p.m. <br /> (#4 #03-2885 GERDA AND ED TOTH, Continued) <br /> Mrs. Killian at 1300 Spruce Place, back to the drawing board with the recommendation to <br /> get the hardcover to 25%. It seemed apparent to Rahn that the Council would like the <br /> Commission to tow the line on the 25%hardcover requirement. Although no vote was <br /> taken, the Council gave the impression that the application would have been denied rather <br /> than tabled, if the full Council were present. <br /> Although Hawn had been present at the past Planning Commission meeting during which <br /> the Commission gave the applicant misdirection, she believed now that they should try to <br /> hold them to 25%hardcover in order to avoid a similar problem at the Council level. <br /> Since there was little hardship which demonstrated the need for more than 25%hardcover, <br /> Chair Smith was hesitant to send them forward with 30%. <br /> Mr. MacDonald argued that the evening's discussion was a reversal from the last Planning <br /> Commission meeting. He maintained that, since the full Council was not present at the last <br /> meeting, Rahn could not deduce that the application would have been denied a greater <br /> hardcover variance. He made a case that the 2 acre zoning district Ordinance in itself <br /> imposes a hardship on applicants with smaller parcels. <br /> Chair Smith reminded the Commission that the Council had given them clear direction, as <br /> of late, to adhere to the 25%hardcover allowance. Although she agreed that the new home <br /> was beautiful, she acknowledged the need to hold to the hardcover numbers. <br /> MacDonald maintained that the City had granted many variances in excess of 25% <br /> hardcover over the past several years. <br /> Chair Smith admitted that the City does make exceptions when the land warrants it. On the <br /> other hand, she noted that when new construction, like this, offers little in the way of <br /> hardship, they must adhere to the percentages. <br /> While she apologized for the misdirection given the applicants the last time, Hawn stated <br /> that the Commission would be doing the applicants no favor sending them forward to the <br /> Council only to be denied their application. <br /> Mr. Toth voiced his disappointment in being vastly misguided by the Commission the last <br /> time they met. <br /> MacDonald asked for the opportunity to repeat his powerpoint presentation given during <br /> the first hearing, since the applicant had gone to a great deal of time and expense to <br /> redesign his application to fit within the Commission's guidelines. <br /> PAGE 13 of 39 <br />