08/16/2010 Planning Commission Minutes

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING • Monday,August 16,2010 6:30 o'clock p.m. , Leskinen indicated she concurs with Commissioner Feuss and that each application should be reviewed on its own merits. Leskinen stated her only concern was the language that addressed relocation of the � remains should the church cease to be a church,particularly as it relates to the in ground columbaria, and that concern appears to be addressed by the church documents. Kang stated that also was a question she had and that she was wondering what other cities are doing. Turner stated Staff does not particularly care what the arrangement is between the church and the church member and that in their view the churches should address it. Staff would then need to take steps to ensure that that issue is addressed by the church appropriately. Kang asked what would happen to the remains if a church, for example,went banlaupt. Curtis indicated it would depend on the agreement the churches have with their members on how that would be handled. Curtis noted cemeteries are governed by state statute and it would depend on what the � arrangement is between the church and its members. Kang noted if it is located within the building,it would be considered an accessory use. Kang asked how big the columbaria could be. Turner stated the size of the columbaria could range and that in national cemeteries they tend to be rather large. Schwingler stated it likely would be based on the size of the congregation and that his concerns are with the setbacks and buffers. Kang asked whether specific setbacks should be part of the ordinance. Schwingler stated in his view it should be addressed at the time the conditional use permit is applied for. Curtis stated the Planning Commission could perhaps set a general condition that a setback will be • required and the City Attorney could draft the appropriate language. Feuss moved,Leskinen seconded,to recommend approval of Application#10-3483,City of Orono, Code Amendment,zoning code text amendment that would allow inurnment or burial of cremated remains at places of worship in residential zoning districts by allowing indoor columbaria as an accessory use to a place of worship and allowing outdoor columbaria,ground niches, and direct earth burial with or without an urn that is accessory to a place of worship with a conditional use � permit,provided that the conditional use permit take into consideration appropriate setbacks, buffers,and a provision addressing the possibility that at some point the property is no longer a place of worship. VOTE: Ayes 4,Nays 0. 4. #10-3484 CITY OF ORONO,CODE AMENDMENT,HISTORIC BUILDINGS Curtis stated in all R Districts,no accessory building shall exceed 1,000 square feet of footprint area, except that accessory structures in excess of 1,000 square feet will be allowed under certain conditions. Page 7