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MINUTES OF THE <br /> ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING <br /> Monday,May 16,2016 <br /> 6:30 o'clock p.m. <br /> Option 2: Remove the number of stories limitation, keep height limitation as it is currently calculated at <br /> 30 feet, remove the 15 percent structural footprint. <br /> If the Planning Commission continues to find Option 1 as the best option, Staff should be directed to draft <br /> an ordinance reflecting Option 1 for the City Council's consideration. <br /> The Planning Commission had no questions for Staff. <br /> Chair Thiesse opened the public hearing at 7:58 p.m. <br /> There were no public comments regarding this application. <br /> Chair Thiesse closed the public hearing at 7:58 p.m. <br /> Schoenzeit stated in his view Option 1 works well. <br /> Landgraver stated this would be removing the number of stories as opposed to introducing a new concept <br /> and that in his view Option 1 is good. <br /> Leskinen stated Option 1 is the right way to go at this time since it will help Staff. Option 1 is also a <br /> small incremental change rather than dramatically changing everything. <br /> Schoenzeit asked if a story would go away under a PUD based on the FAR. <br /> Curtis stated it would depend on what the FAR number was set at. <br /> Leskinen moved,Schwingler seconded,to recommend approval of Application No. 16-3815, City of <br /> Orono,Zoning Code Amendment regarding the definition of half-story and the regulation of <br /> massing,and direct Staff to go with Option 1. VOTE: Ayes 6,Nays 0. <br /> 8. #16-3817 CITY OF ORONO,ZONING CODE TEXT AMENDMENT DEFINING <br /> EXISTING GROUND LEVEL AND ENGINEERED GRADE,8:03 P.M.—8:10 P.M. <br /> Barnhart stated the draft ordinance is intended to clarify the definition of existing grade. The City <br /> currently uses different terms for grade throughout the current ordinance and this proposed ordinance <br /> helps to clean that up. <br /> The draft ordinance also amends the definition of existing ground grade and the definition of basement <br /> and building height to consistently use "existing ground level." Existing grade is an important term in the <br /> application of the zoning ordinance, as the height of buildings and structures are based on grade. Grade is <br /> also used to determine if the lowest floor is a basement or a floor, impacting the 2-1/2 story <br /> determination. <br /> The draft ordinance also adds new definitions for"engineered grade"and"natural grade" as these terms <br /> are used in the ordinance. <br /> Barnhart stated the draft ordinance is not intended to change policy or practice but is intended to establish <br /> consistency and codify practice. <br /> Page 14 of 17 <br />