07/20/2009 Planning Commission Minutes

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO PLANNING COMNIISSION MEETING July 20,2009 6:30 o'clock p.m. � (#09-3418 DENIVIS BATTY ON BEHALF OF BROOK INVESTMENT GROUP,CONTINUED) � A setback of 29 feet from Kelly Avenue right-of-way is proposed for the east addition. The required setback is 35 feet. A setback of 0 feet from the west property line is proposed for the upper level of the west addition when the required setback is 35 feet. i Setback variances are requested for both parking lot expansions. The new portion of the�upper parldng lot would be located 4.16 feet from the right-of-way of Shoreline Drive and 3.5 feet from the right-of-way of Kelly Avenue. Code requires a 10-foot setback from Shoreline Drive and a 20-foot setback from Kelly Avenue. The new portion of the lower parking area would be 8.42 feet from the south properiy line when the code would require a 15-foot setback. It would be 15 feet from the right-of-way of Kelly Avenue when a 20-foot setback is required. If the Commission is satisfied with the proposal or the applicant is amenable to making it satisfactory,the Planning Commission should give the applicant direction and table consideration of the application until the grading plan and drainage calculations have been received and found satisfactory by the City Engineer and the revised plans submitted. If the Commission is not satisfied with the proposal and the applicant is not amenable to making changes, the Commission should make a recommendation for denial. The applicant could then choose to have the City Council consider the proposal with or without the grading plan and drainage calculations. Batty stated they were just recently notified that the City Engineer is requesting additional information on the runoff calculations and that they have worked out what they feel is a satisfactory arrangement with the drainage. Prior to the design of the drainage,they were informed that the entire gravel parking lot would be considered as hardcover. Their engineer has determined that the amount of runoff is very minimal. Batty indicated he has had a number of conversations with Planner Turner and that a number of the issues raised in the report were not brought up in their discussions and that he would be interested in lmowing which landscaped areas are considered small. They are proposing a number of landscaped areas along Kelly Avenue,which in their estimation would support both shrubs and trees. They are more than willing to look at increasing the landscaped areas but are somewhat limited due to the existing building. Batty noted the city of Orono does not have exact landscape requirements for the amount of square feet of the building and that the lack of that type of language has made it difficult to understand exactly what the City is looking for. �I Batty stated he has had a number of neighborhood meetings concerning this proposal and that they have attempted to address their concerns as much as possible. Batty stated he understands they are pushing the limit on structural and hardcover but that it is necessary in order to make the structure economically feasible. ' Habib stated he would like to lrnow the long-term vision for Orono and that he would like to be a part of the Orono community. Habib stated he understands the parking in this area is a concern and that he could expand the parking by approximately eight stalls if he removes some trees but that he would like to retain the trees if at all possible. , � Kempf asked if the trees are located on the lower level by Kelly Avenue. �� PAGE 13 I