11-26-2001 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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I- MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, November 26, 2001 7:00 o'clock p.m. • ( #01 -2711 Western Steel, Continued) chain link fence surrounding the property. Staff would request that the Applicants continue to plant evergreens in accordance with zoning requirements as well as add some landscaping on the west side of the property to create a natural landscaping buffer between Highway 12 and the parking area. Weinberger stated another issue that Staff has reviewed with the Applicants not remove all trees located in the parking lot area. Weinberger stated some parking spaces would be eliminated in order to provide small islands around some trees located within the parking area. The Applicants have indicated they are agreeable to this. Weinberger stated the Applicant would still meet the minimum parking requirements. Weinberger stated the four support posts for the canopy have been installed, with the proposed canopy being 24 feet by 36 feet. Staff is recommending that the color of the canopy match the color of the building, which is an off - white, grayish colored building. The Applicants are proposing a black canopy with the red support posts. Weinberger stated some final approvals are still needed regarding the stormwater management plan. Weinberger stated the Applicants are scheduled to move fully onto the property in the near future and are requesting final approval of their site plan. Staff is recommending Council adopt the resolution subject to the conditions outlined. White stated in his view the Applicants and Staff have arrived at a good solution concerning the trees • and parking area. Flint stated he has a concern not necessarily specific to this application, but as it relates to the appearance along Highway 12 in general. Flint stated the City tends to look at each of these places piecemeal rather than at the whole picture. Flint stated he would like the City to follow through with the long -term concept originally raised by former Council Member Kelley concerning the aesthetics along Highway 12. Gaffron stated the City has recently received some information from Long Lake concerning the adoption of new ordinances and implementing their development plan along Highway 12. Gaffron stated the City of Orono did look at this issue a couple of years ago and that perhaps it needs to be revisited. Gaffron inquired whether Flint was interested in the boulevard with trees concept for this area. Flint stated he was, along with decorative lighting. Gaffron stated the City has not taken the next step which would be adoption of regulations requiring the existing property owners along Highway 12 to incorporate certain landscaping features. Flint noted the other side of the roadway is not developed at the present time, but that the City needs to address both sides of the street. Moorse stated the City has not arrived at a final design concept for Highway 12 at the present time, • PAGE 4