11/20/2006 Planning Commission Minutes

Home Browse Search

MINUTES OF THE ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION Monday,November 20,2006 6:00 o'clock p.m. (#06-3243 NORTH SHORE GARDENS, CONTINUED) Rahn stated there is no doubt that the applicant needs some type of system to stabilize the slope and that the issue is the design. Marzan stated the rocks being proposed weigh approximately 1800 pounds apiece and that the decking . will be removed. Marzan stated whatever is constructed in this area,he would require some type of access to maintain it. Rahn stated it is a matter of design and that the Planning Commission is not going to get into designing a plan for the applicant tonight. Rahn noted the applicant is allowed one stairway three to four feet in width to allow access to the lake. Marzan stated the plan that would call for the least amount of hardcover is a stairway that goes straight down to the lake. • Kempf stated essentially the view from the lake there would be approximately a 20-foot high wall and . that it would not be very aesthetically pleasing. Kempf noted there would be two ten-foot drops and that the terracing�does not allow the property to be very useable. Kempf stated if a 2:1 slope were properly planted,it would not fall into the lake. Marzan inquired whether Commissioner Kempf is talking about cutting back into the yard. Kempf stated he is talking about going back 17 feet. Marzan indicated that would be difficult to do given the location of a large tree in that area. Kempf stated this lot is lower than the lot to the east and that the cut would help this property fit more into the existing contour of that lot. Kempf stated in order to save the tree, a wall could be constructed around the tree in a semi-circle. Kempf stated the City does not like to see a lot of lawn down by the lakeshore to avoid the use of fertilizers and other chemicals down by the lakeshore. Marzan stated on the left side of that area there are a number of trees and that he looked at this more from an economical standpoint. Marzan�stated he looked at a number of options to correct this situation and - that he has been told he would lose all the trees if the yard is cut into. Marzan stated the water on the lot has a tendency to go around the tree. Marzan stated they are looking to tenace the walls properly and plant some landscaping to help stabilize the slope and screen the walls. - Kempf stated he would like to see a brealdng up of the series of long straight walls that go from one edge of the property to the other. Marzan stated a wall wrapped around the tree would look nice aesthetically and that he understands the City's concerns about a straight wall across the property. � PAGE 15