11-28-1988 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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L � • MINUTES OF REGULAR ORONO COUNCIL MEETING NOVEMBER 28,1988 ZONING FILE #1334- REBERS CONTINUED looked at before plans were wmade to upgrade Brown Road. Councilmember Callahan pointed out the fact that the upgrading of Brown Road' was included in a proposal to upgrade all of the M.S.A. roads within Orono. He said the Rebers subdivision and the issue of sewer have nothing to do with upgrading Brown Road. Mr. Johnson asked Callahan as to his opinion regarding the proposed subdivision. Callahan replied that he thought the plan to be a good one, and had no objections to the 6 lots along the northern boundary. Mr. Brachman believed that the initial proposal called for 1• acre lots at a minimum. However, there are now lots proposed to be 3/4's of an acre.- It bothered him that the plan had varied. He compared the density to Ferndale North, and added that he did not move to Orono to look at that. Mayor Grabek said that the lots could be 1 acre but it would eliminate the buffer. Mr. Duncanson suggested that since there seemed to be enough public dissatisfaction with the development, that perhaps the application should be returned to the Planning Commission._ Mayor Grabek stated that he understood the residents' unhappiness. He said that there was always dissatisfaction of neighbors with improvements. He assured the neighbors that he and the Council were doing their best to properly develop the land within Orono. He said there were two sides to this issue. Mrs. Duncanson stated that the majority of the citizens of Orono were against the 1 acre zoning. She did not understand how the Council could claim to represent the citizens of Orono. The question arose as to whether Mr. Rebers intended to reside within the subdivision and whether he was even a citizen of Orono. Mr. Beach stated that this proposal was changing the zoning of the City that attracted everyone to Orono. It will alleviate the country flavor of Orono. Mayor Grabek explained that changes had been occurring over the last 2 -1/2 years with the Highway 12 Corridor study. It was felt that this type of` zoning would provide a suitable buffer to the commercial atmosphere of Highway 12. He further added that there were 9 public hearings involving this matter. Mr. Fordyce reiterated previously expressed feelings that the Council was not representing the citizens as a whole, but merely one individual. Councilmember Goetten stated that the Mayor had asked for the public to express their concerns. The Council had not yet expressed their concerns or asked their questions. She added that the rezoning had already occurred, but that did not mean that other concerns could not be addressed. Mr. Platteter said •that even though there were objections to the rezoning, it marched ahead. He asked why the access road could not be located off of the proposed frontage road? 12