05-26-1998 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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• ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES FOR MAY 26, 1998 Mayor /Council Report - continued Gappa reported that the City had at least 30 lift stations down at one time with only 5 generators available. The City is looking at purchasing additional generators. Kelley suggested a contingency plan be established to share or loan generators in emergency situations. Jabbour complemented the City Administrator on establishing a brush site for storm damage. It was helpftil to citizens to have commercial contractors allowed to use the site as well as property owners so that contractors from outside the Metro area could work in the City. Flint suggested an early starting time when the Council agenda is difficult. Moorse responded that it would be possible as long as notice was posted. Council members suggested doing business other than land use applications prior to 7:00 p.m. ( #17) ZONING CODE AMENDMENT - ELIMINATE WETLAND CREDIT - ORDINANCE NO. 176, 2ND SERIES Gaffron explained that the proposed ordinance would eliminate the ability to credit wetland • acreage toward development density in sewered areas. It would allow the flood fringe area that is not wetland to continue to be credited as a dry buildable area. It also formalizes the policy that in back lot situations, wetlands can be credited toward the extra 50% requirement. Council had suggested removing wetland credits from all zones, not just the 2 and 5 acre zones, since tieing sewered lots to the density credit didn't make sense any longer. _ Jabbour asked for an explanation of how the manmade stormwater ponds were given credit. Gaffron responded that in the Waade plat it was for the 50% credit for a back lot situation. Gaffron explained that the existing developments that have used the density credit since 1970 shall be considered legally non - conforming as to lot area or density per their original approval. A variance would not be required for an improvement to such properties. This ordinance would have eliminated the density credit for the Brook Park application. Flint moved, Kelley seconded, to adopt Ordinance No. 176, 2nd Series, amending the City of Orono Zoning Code Section 10.55, Subdivision 15(A) regarding the use of wetlands and flood fringe areas for development density credit. Vote: Ayes 4, Nays 0. • 29