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MINUTES OF THE <br /> ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING <br /> Tuesday,January 17,2006 <br /> 6:00 o'clock p.m. <br /> (#06-3173 INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT ZONING STANDARDS,CONTINUED) <br /> Bremer stated the intent of the landscaping provision in her view has been written to give the City the <br /> ability to require additional landscaping if deemed appropriate. <br /> Grittman stated the 15 percent is expressed as a minimum in the ordinance amendment and that an <br /> argument could be made that there is some discretion on the part of the City to increase that number. <br /> Bremer stated she would like that section of the code to be clear to applicants so they understand that the <br /> City has the discretion to require whatever additional landscaping is necessary in the best interests of the <br /> City and that they would need to meet these minimum standards. <br /> Grittman stated that specific expectation could be included. <br /> Kempf stated if there are two standards, in his opinion the office uses would have very little landscaping <br /> because they need additional parking and the warehouses would be beautifully landscaped. <br /> Jurgens stated green space in his view is grass and landscaping is the trees, shrubs, flowers, and plantings. <br /> Jurgens stated the 15 percent only addresses the green space and that the landscaping requirements would <br /> cover the plantings and trees on a lot. Jurgens stated if the 15 percent remains,he would recommend that <br /> the number of required trees or landscaping be increased. <br /> Winkey stated he would like to see clear language in the ordinance that would allow the City to have the <br /> discretion to require more landscaping in certain situations. <br /> Leslie noted the City is anticipating there will be a decline in the number of CUPs under this ordinance <br /> and that most businesses will meet the 15 percent. <br /> Gaffron stated the City does have some discretion with a Planned Unit Development and that it would be <br /> helpful to Staff if there were some very defined standards rather than general language which leaves it up <br /> to the discretion of Staff. <br /> Kempf stated the general consensus of the Planning Commission appears to be that there be a strong <br /> landscaping standard. <br /> Leslie and Jurgens concurred they would like to see a strong landscaping standard, which will accomplish <br /> what the City would like to see for green space in this area. <br /> Bremer opened the public hearing at 6:40 p.m. <br /> Peter Johnson, Attorney-at-Law for Morrie's,noted he received the draft ordinance on Friday. Johnson <br /> stated they have not had a chance to adequately review this draft ordinance and how it would apply to <br /> their property. Johnson indicated they have begun that review process but have not completed it. <br /> PAGE 4 <br />