Laserfiche WebLink
MINUTES OF THE <br />� ORONO PLANN�NG COMNIISSION MEETING <br /> � Monday,April 17,2006 <br /> 6:00 o'clock p.m. <br /> (#06-3185 WJM Properties, Continued) <br /> Johnson requested full access not be cut off because they do have big trucks coming in and out and they <br /> need the full road access. Johnson stated they do not have a problem with trucks turning around on the <br /> lot. <br /> Rahn stated he feels there might be a problem with trucks being able to maneuver on the site if all the <br /> parking stalls are full. <br /> Johnson stated it is unlikely that all the parking stalls will be full. <br /> Rahn stated he has two issues with this application; one being the flagpoles and the other issue being that <br /> this application was originally sold more as the get ready shop for cars. Rahn stated in his opinion this <br /> use keeps expanding and is getting closer and closer to retail sales, especially with the addition of leasing <br /> sales and the showroom. Rahn stated the retail sale of cars is not an allowed use. <br /> Smith stated she has a similar recollection to Chair Rahn's and that she remembers a commissioner asldng <br /> the specific question about whether a car could be purchased off this lot and the answer was that you <br /> could but that's not our focus. Smith commented it is hard to distinguish between a fleet owner coming <br /> in and purchasing a number of cars and one individual purchasing a car. <br /> Smith inquired how many vehicles a person can test-drive at any one time and why there is a need to have <br /> 250 vehicles available to be test driven. <br /> Johnson stated their initial application was for a leasing operation and interior showroom with 40 cars that <br /> would be available for test-driving lined up along the front. Johnson stated the Planning Commission <br /> went around and around with the definition of a showroom but that Morries needs to have a showroom <br /> and cars available for its customers. Johnson noted the vehicles available for test-driving are not readily <br /> visible from the roadway. <br /> Johnson stated their salesmen would refer individual buyers to different Morries' lots to purchase a single <br /> car. Johnson stated the showroom gives them the opportunity to show 15 different vehicles by different <br /> manufacturers and that there would be issues with the various car dealers if they conducted retail out of <br /> their showroom. <br /> Winkey inquired whether they are limiting the number of vehicles <br /> Johnson stated their conditional use permit allows them to have 250 cars for storage and 40 cars for <br /> display and test-driving. Johnson stated additional parking has been added for approximately 100 cars. <br /> The previous ordinance allowed cars to be on display with a conditional use permit. The city attorney has <br /> indicated that Morries can go from 40 to 60 test-drive vehicles two years from now. Johnson stated he is <br /> not sure that is a correct statement by the city attorney and that the city has ordinances that do not allow a <br /> conditional use pernut to be granted for a use that is not pernutted. <br /> PAGE 14 <br />