04-27-1998 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES FOR APRIL 27,1998 Mayor /Council Report - Continued Flint requested that staff look at the second house in from Old Crystal Bay Road on the Dickey property. What appears to be a creek is being filled with boulders. If this is a drainage easement, there could be a major impact. Kelley noted there were two retention ponds in the development with drainage easements running to them. Flint also referred to Gaffron's wetland memo. He wanted to look at the 1/2 and 1 acre zoning. In new subdivisions, the wetland credit has been used to create greater density. Jabbour asked if the wetland credit could be eliminated from the subdivision ordinance without making other sites non- conforming. Gaffron thought it was possible. There may be some property owners who may think they are losing something if the wetland credit is taken away. Flint made the point that if the goal is to protect wetlands, you don't just do so in the 2 and 5 acre zones. Other members agreed. The Council directed that the amendment eliminate the wetland credit all zoning district. Gaffron thought the provisions for density credit came in 1970 but was unsure why. Possibly the City thought they were giving somebody, who thought they were losing something through a rezoning, something back. • Kelley asked what would happen if the wetland credit were removed from the code. Gaffron responded that it could be done and thought the risks would be low of having someone who thought they could get that credit and then would not be able to do so. Council gave direction to staff to eliminate the wetland credit. Gaffron stated he would look at the code to see if there were any major problems and publish for a public hearing for such an amendment. McMillan asked if this helped septic areas. Gaffron responded that the credit was only available if the property was sewered. Kelley asked if the City had gotten any comments back from property owners in the proposed sewer project for the golf course area. Gaffron had not received any, but thought the Public Services Director would probably be the one to receive those comments. Gaffron discussed one of the benefits of a wetland credit. Brook Park is a situation where the City has the ability to grant additional density which is a positive in the eyes of some other agencies. • 15 -