10-10-1988 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO COUNCIL MEETING OF OCTOBER 10, 1988 • HIGHWAY 12 ZONING AMENDMENT CONTINUED there would be an application for a use that was consistent with the Comprehensive Plan, but a rezoning process would still be necessary. It would be difficult to deny a use that was allowed by the Comprehensive Plan. The review process would focus on aesthetics, the quality of the development, traffic and other performance standards. If application were made for a use that was shown as a permitted alternative, it would be a request for a rezoning for a use that is consistent with the Comprehensive Plan. Nettles then asked whether the Council could deny such an application, even though the proposed use was permissable under the zoning plan for other districts other than the B -6 Zone? Shardlow replied that if the Council were not comfortable with allowing certain uses within certain areas, then the Comprehensive Plan should be changed accordingly. The Planning Commission had previously indicted that their concern was not use as much as quality. Shardlow had suggested .placing performance standards within the B -6 District over and above those in the other zoning districts. In addition, the PUD gives the City the opportunity to enter into making a design framework manual, and specific covenants part of the official approval. However, land use should not be a basis for denial. City Attorney Barrett stated that should there be any • changes to the ordinance that would now allow any subsequent zoning to defy the Comprehensive Plan so that it would not control the zoning under the statutes, that may give the Council more discretion in the zoning process. However, the list of uses is very narrow and distinguishing that list from slightly different uses would not be easy and the idea that there is a distinction which would require a different level of review would be difficult. Nettles suggested that since, the Highway 12 Corridor is such an important issue, that perhaps some criteria should be established as to how uses would be diffentiated from the City of Orono as-a whole to the Highway 12 Corridor. The ordinance sets forth the specific performance standards such as lot area, lot widths, setbacks, etc. Lot area has been a topic highly discussed. Some of the proposed uses may not require 2 acres of land. The Planning Commission indicated that they wanted to leave the minimum lot area at 2.acres with the understanding that should there be application for a series of uses, some of which would sit on smaller lots, they could apply through the PUD. The PUD would help in providing an overall consistency for such applications. The PUD would allow for flexibility in the performance standards as long as the applicant could show the advantages of such flexibility. The ordinance also addresses the issue of drainage and requires that site and drainage plans be submitted with an •application. It places a height limitation of 35' except through the issuance of a conditional use permit. There would be a requirement that a minimum of 25% of the lot area and at least 3% 4