03/15/2004 Planning Commission Minutes

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MINUTES OF THE - ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING Monday, March 15, 2004 6:00 o'clock p.m. (#10. #04-2993 CHRIS VALERIUS, 2377 SHADYWOOD ROAD,VARIANCES FOR A COFFEE SHOP—Continued) Audience member John Erickson, 1620 Shadywood Road, suggested eliminating the parking stalls and just provide the drive-through. If someone is going to walk into the store they can park in the big parking lot. Traffic is in and out of the parking lot all the time. Applicant said that is why she is offering two to three parking spaces tucked up near the home and would like to keep at least two spaces. Rahn suggested the city engineer review the new plan presented this evening. If commission prefers the second plan, we can table this item until the city engineer can review it. The applicant is fine with tabling the item. Gaffron stated that commission needs to look at the building design and exterior materials so that the commission is proud of this new addition to the Navarre neighborhood and secondly that it meets our code in terms of exterior wall finishes, for instance, it has to be face brick or natural stone or specially designed precise concrete units or factory pre-fabricated finished metal frame panel construction or something else you can approve. Gaffron suggests looking at the building elevations to make sure the commission understands that the building is a square box attached to a house with a steeply pitched roof with dormers. Mabusth asked if the B1 residential ceases on this property. Gundlach responded in the affirmative and stated that no one is presently living there. There is currently a second story on the home that will remain and be used for storage and office. Mabusth stated to the applicant that the new plan presented to them tonight will be tabled until the city engineer can review it. It is important for the applicant to have detailed plans on the exterior finishes and the elevations completed so that when the applicant comes back to the commission everything is ready and causes no further delay for them. She suggested that the current home looks like a residence and the commission would like it to look more like a coffee house—a cottage type structure but a commercial structure. Rahn asked if the roof was flat on the addition. The applicant responded affirmatively. Gundlach stated that she has spoke with the building inspector and he indicated there are several issues to discuss in converting residential property to commercial and can be handled under the building permit phase because that would require the completion of some detailed plans. Page 27 of 48