04/17/2006 Planning Commission Minutes

Home Browse Search

MINUTES OF THE ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING . Monday,Apri117,2006 6:00 o'clock p.m. (#06-3185 WJM Properties,Continued) In addition,to the south of the 25,620 square foot addition,the applicant is proposing to remove a portion of the parking lot and relocate it. Gaffron stated with the removal of that portion of the parking lot,there would be 542 parking stalls remaining on the lot. Gaffron indicated removal of that portion of the _ parking lot is not an issue. The visual impact of losing this buffer is not major since there is only one house south of the Highway 12 corridor that would have second-story views of the parking area from a distance of about 850 feet. The applicant is also requesting a conditional use permit to allow two 60-foot high flagpoles,with city code normally limiting such poles to 40 feet. One flagpole would be located directly behind the new monument sign adjacent to Highway 12 and the second flagpole would be located in the midpoint of the large easterly parking area,about 450 feet south of Highway 12 and 180 feet west of the east lot line. A 60-foot flagpole would be approximately four times the height of the east fa�ade of the main building. The power poles along the north side of Highway 12 have been estimated by triangulation to be approximately 40 feet in height. Staff is suggesting that if a 60-foot height flagpole is allowed,that a maximum 8-foot by 12-foot flag would be allowed. Smith inquired what the height of the flagpole in front of the City Council Chambers is. Gaffron stated that flagpole is approximately 25 to 30 feet in height. Smith noted the flagpoles in this vicinity are considerably lower than 60 feet. Gaffron indicated the applicant is also requesting to amend the existing conditional use permit conditions within Resolution No.4845. The existing language identifies different types of vehicles that will be stored in the main easterly parking lot as "new vehicles and finished vehicles ready for delivery to dealerships." The resolution goes on to state that up to 40 vehicles may be parked for"display"at the north end of the main parking lot and at the north end of the building. The display vehicle language was originally intended to make a distinction between those cars that are for demonstration purposes as part of the fleet sales and leasing element of the Morries' operation at this site. In actuality,it is probably impossible for the public to visually perceive a difference between cars stored for demonstration purposes or cars stored or parked for other purposes on the site. It appears that the applicant does not want to be limited to 40 demonstration vehicles and requests that any cars in excess of 40 for demonstration purposes be allowed on site but be stored in the south end of the east lot. The applicant is proposing a continuing of the approved lighting plan for the new parking area. Staff finds this acceptable and does not expect there to be impacts on nearby residential properties that are all located more than 600 feet distance from the parking area. No additional signage is proposed with this building addition and parking/storage expansion. The city engineer has reviewed this project and his comments are attached as Exhibit G. The engineer's comments relate generally to drainage and stormwater runoff concerns associated with the parking lot expansion. The engineer finds the plans acceptable,but noted that the pre-existing onsite storm sewer system depicted on the plans has inadequate capacity but its overflow has no impact on adjoining properties, and the entire site will discharge to a pond just east of the property. PAGE 11