05/16/2005 Planning Commission Minutes

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING Monday,May 16,2005 6:00 o'clock p.m. (#05-3098 City of Orono,Zoning Code Amendment, Continued) Rahn stated this amendment has been driven by the redevelopment the City has experienced along the lake and the clearing of lots. Bremer stated the City appreciates residents who are ecologically sensitive to the vegetation along the lakeshore,but that the amendment is designed to help develop a plan to help maintain and preserve the natural vegetation. Bremer stated the issue may be the removal of buckthorn and how that should be handled. Winkey stated in the short period of time he has been on the Planning Commission the removal of vegetation along the lake has been consistent and has raised numerous issues. Winkey stated the City is attempting to guard against the clear-cutting of properties and put in place a plan to help protect the natural vegetation of the area. Fritzler stated it is not the intention of the Planning Commission or the City to walk onto someone's property and tell the property owner what they can and cannot do,but that there needs to be some type of controls or guidelines in place to deal with the removal of vegetation along the shoreline by people who are not environmentally conscious. Ms. Smith stated she would like to know whether this ordinance was drafted after another city's ordinance. Gaffron stated parts(a)and(b)were taken almost word for word out of the DNR's ordinance for shoreland in 1992. Items(c) and(d)have been created by the City to deal with the issues that have arisen in Orono and is not specifically taken from another city. Gaffron stated he is unaware of other cities having an ordinance similar to this. Smith stated she understands the reason for the amendment but that the need to obtain a permit to prune trees is ridiculous. Smith encouraged the Planning Commission to put more thought into the amendment. Smith inquired how many residents have been identified as being potentially affected by this ordinance amendment. Gaffron stated approximately 120 residents were notified of the hearing tonight. Smith suggested the Planning Commission look at regulating fertilizers due to the runoff into the lakes. Fritzler indicated state law regulates the use of fertilizers along the lakeshore. Tom Browne, 760 South Brown Road, stated one possible solution is to address a smaller area,noting that the City is already busy enough without granting a number of permits to anyone who wants to prune a tree. Rahn stated the intent of the amendment is to prevent the complete stripping of the shoreline. PAGE 5