12-08-1997 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE REGULAR ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON DECEMBER 8,1997 ( #9 - #2308 Brook Park Realty - Continued) Jabbour asked if the project meets the Livable Community Act. Gleason said he was unsure what that limit is but noted he was required to eliminate some units. The current market price is $134,000. Moorse reported that under the act, the maximum limit is $120,000 for 1997. Flint voiced interest in knowing how traffic will be affected in the neighborhood and if there were any requirements pertaining to this issue. Van Zomeren said there was not but could be added as a condition. Flint questioned whether it is fair to add that much traffic to a lower density housing area. Gleason said a water tower is located in the area where the road comes out. The number of units is low on that road and traffic would not affect many units. He said the goal is to extend the road to the west if he can acquire the land. The owner is not interested at this time, however. Kelley said a point that the Council should be made aware of is the subdivision may facilitate the need for a traffic light to be installed at Casco Point Road and Shoreline Drive. He noted the difficulty that would result in making left turns to go east during the morning rush hour. Kelley said the CoRd 19 and Livingston intersection will be used more and is a bad intersection to begin with. Moorse said the Council may want to ask the applicant to provide traffic information since this is the only way out of the subdivision and is of major concern. Jabbour said the majority of the application meets the code, though, he would like to have seen the project meeting the affordable housing criteria. He indicated the cul -de- sac requirement would not be met but noted the plan is for saving trees. Jabbour said the applicant must demonstrate the hardship to deviate from the cul -de -sac requirement. Gleason said the drive is meant to be a private drive, will be marked and made to appear as such. The hammerhead was considered to provide room for a turnaround. Jabbour noted that most of the roads in the City are private roads. Jabbour said he sees no hardship demonstrated. Gleason asked if trees were considered a hardship. Jabbour said the problem could be satisfied by eliminating two homes and installing a cul -de -sac noting the requirement is law. Kelley said he had questioned whether the Council was considering not requiring the applicant to adhere to the law. Peterson said she also was concerned with the issue of the cul -de -sac. She asked Barrett to look into the use of the word, "may ". Barrett said he would do so. He feels there is reason for plausible discretion by the applicant with the language, "may obtain ". Jabbour asked for Council direction. 12 •