01-11-2010 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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.' MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, January 11, 2010 7:00 o'clock p.m. (3. #05 -3164 CITY OF ORONO — CONSERVATION DESIGN ORDINANCE —ORDINANCE ADOPTIONNO. 67, THIRD SERIES, Continued) There has been no apparent change in the Council's intent regarding holding the line on rural density, and the ordinance as presented does not provide for rural area density incentives. The ordinance as drafted dictates that Conservation Design is a basic requirement for rural subdivision approval and is not an optional process. White asked why this process has taken five years. Gaffron indicated the primary issue was whether there would be any incentives for the rural area and whether the City was interested in specifying numerically the incentives that would be provided. There is a performance bonus included for creating a development above what is required in the Code. Approximately three or four years ago there was a significant discussion regarding the numerical values to be assigned to incentives, and it was determined at some point that the numerical values should be eliminated. Gaffron stated in his view the ordinance offers the City a level of flexibility in interpretation that developers will potentially see as an added required process that lacks incentives which would lead to a predictable outcome. While the ordinance relies on the developer hiring qualified consultants, it also establishes evaluation criteria by which an application will be judged. There have been three or four successful developments in the interim that have followed the tenets of the ordinance voluntarily. is Murphy commented that in his view those interim developments have been instructive and should be used as an example in approving future applications. McMillan commented the City looked at smaller developments across the country and looked at creating an ordinance that would have an emphasis on protecting rural oasis and rural themes that the City identified. The traditional conservation design dealt more with larger parcels and increased densities. McMillan noted there is a problem with clustering septic systems and that it is unclear whether that has been resolved with this ordinance. Bremer stated she is glad this ordinance is finally before the Council and noted that she was on the Planning Commission when it was first discussed. Bremer asked what type of presentation was made at the first public hearing. Gaffron stated at the August public hearing the Rural Oasis Study was not discussed at great depth but it was discussed in work session with more specificity. Bremer asked what information is available on the city's web site regarding the Rural Oasis Study. Gaffron indicated to his knowledge the Rural Oasis Study is not on the web site currently. Bremer recommended that be added to the City's web site. McMillan asked whether concrete standards could be developed from the Rural Oasis Study to help provide direction to developers. • Page 3