05-27-2003 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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f MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING -" Tuesday, May 27, 2003 7:00 o'clock p.m. • PLANNING COMMISSION COMMENTS - Elizabeth Hawn Although she had nothing new to report, Hawn asked the Council for their suggestions with regard to the Commission's lengthy meetings. She stated that the Planning Commission had been subject to meetings which were extending into late hours, which she felt was unfair to the later applicants, and to the Commissioners. Sansevere encouraged the Commission to tow the line on a time limit and not to spend so much time trying to assist applicants in identifying a hardship. He acknowledged that everyone would like to be a good neighbor and give applicants the opportunity to share their case, but the Commission needs to move on in many of these proposals. As a recent liaison, White stated that the agendas have become very cumbersome and he was concerned that some of the good representatives on the Commission might get burned out. Murphy indicated that, as the latest liaison, he noticed that the first applicant ate up 1.5 hours on old business, while little new information was shared. With full support of the Council, he pointed out that the Commission should limit the presentations of old business to only new information. Murphy suggested the Council and Planning Commission meet to discuss the hardcover and hardship ordinances and philosophy. He maintained that, much of the problem continues to be, too much house proposed for too small lots. While Mayor Peterson recognized Gaffron and Chaput for their efforts to express the limitations to • applicants prior to their meeting with the Commission, she questioned why the applicants continue to push the envelope. She pointed out that the City was spending far more time and money working with the applicants than the permit fees covered. Sansevere questioned whether the City could have more than one Planning Commission meeting on alternate weeks to hear the applications. Attorney Barrett explained that the City could form a subcommittee to hear the applications which would then be reviewed by the Planning Commission, if they felt they wished to add another level to the process. Murphy believed that if the Commission could indicate that there was a time limit to share new information, and stick to it, the meetings would be more reasonable in length. Gaffron agreed that time limits could be imposed to a degree to hold the applicants to; however, the biggest problem has been the evolution of complex issues related to new construction versus remodels with regard to hardcover. Murphy added that, in one case in particular, one applicant insisted repeatedly to share a powerpoint presentation under old business that had been shared its first time around. After denying him the opportunity to repeat the presentation, as a public body, the Commission allowed him to share any new information within his presentation that might be deemed useful by the Commission. • PAGE 2 of 11