07-16-2012 Planning Commission Packet

Home Browse Search

. � � MINUTES OF THE ' ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday,3une 25,2012 � � . 7:00 o'clock p.m. . � . (3. #IO-349I CITY OF ORONO-HARDCOVER REGULATIONS AMENDMENT, Gontinued) accordance with their Comprehensive Plan,to si.mplify the process,and to reduce the strain on Staff in processing the numerous vaziance applications. Gozola indicated a survey of 30 communities,including Orono,that was completed by the MCWD at the bea nning of this process, showed tha.t most communities around the lake have approved between zero � .and three variances. In comparison,that same survey shows that the City of�Orono estimated that approximately 160 variances may have been approved over the yeazs for hardcover issues. That number • of variances puts a considera.ble strain on Staff to adm.i.nister the City's requirements,it puts a strai.n on the � City Council and Planning Commission meetings, and it is a strain on citizens as they both have to pay for and then go through a two to three month long process to request relief for something that is nearly always granted. � � In recognition of all these variances that ha.ve been approved, along with the frequent requests.over the � years by the homeowners asking for more flexibility with�iegards;to hardcover,the City Council created.a � ,z,.; task force to study fhe issue and to help draft some language for a new ordinance. The process began with the Planning Commission and City Council compiling a Iist of goals for the draft ordinance. Those goals were subsequently presented to the task force that was established by the City Council. The task � force helped develop more specifics with each of the goals and assisted in the crea�ion of an overall framework for the performance based option that was initially proposed. The goals included coordi.nating all regulations and to use the consistent term of hardcover;update the definition for hardcover, close lob cal enforcement gaps, allow all homes�to have a small deck orpatio;and eliminate f the roof overhang. _ � Gozola sta.ted the overriding theme for people was a simplification of the process. The new proposed language is designed.to be easily understandable and should not require frequentcalls to the City to find out what is required. One of the ways this has been accomplished is to make sure that consistent terminology is being used. Gozola indicated he has identified four or five different terms that were basically talking about the same thing in the City's current ordi.nances and that he is proposing to simply use the term hardcover. `Also being proposed is langua.ge that will clean up the definition for hardcover, language that will close logical gaps in the regulation system as it currently exists,provide a credit for patios and decks since that is something that is frequently a reason for a variance request,elimination of the roof overhang penalty,and elimination of the existing hardcover zones. Gozola sta.ted the new overlay disfrict will be called.the Stormwater Quality Overlay District. Gozola noted the current code was amended in 11 di.fferent azeas. The ordinance includes a map that specifically identifies all parcels that are to be reguIated. The map also identifies a11 of the parcels that are currently regulated under the existing ordinance,which basically comprises all of the properties that are withi.n 1,000 feet of the lakeshore or 300 feet of streams. That map demonstrates there are gaps in the.current � system of pazcels that aze unregulated even though they are completely surrounded by regulated parcels. ; The parcels shown in purple are the pazcels that are.proposed to be regulated under the new ordinance. ° Gozola noted this is a slight increase in the total number of properties that would be regulated but helps achieve the City's goals in i.mprovi.ng the water quality of the lakes and streams. � McMillan asked how the parcels were identified and placed in certain��iers. Gozola indicated he will be covering that part of the ordinance in a few m.i.nutes. � � '`•- � Page 2 of 1� .