04/15/2013 Planning Commission Minutes

Home Browse Search

MINUTES OF THE ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING Monday,Apri115,2013 6:30 o'clock p.m. Landgraver noted this is not the finalized document but that he is somewhat hesitant on that item. Gaffron stated the Planning Commission has raised some good issues and that$taff will need to look at it further. Lemke indicated he would tend to lean towards Option B since it provides some further regulation. Schoenzeit stated Option B may apply to more of the freestanding structures, and that under Option B, you would need to adjust your list and make it two separate lists, such as features to the principal structure � and freestanding. Landgraver and Leskinen concurred that it would make sense to have two separate lists. Gaffron stated the features would fall under Option C and freestanding would fall under Option B. Section 21. This change merely adds"sport courts"to the list of oversize accessory structures that are subject to special setbacks(tennis courts,pools,paddocks, arenas). Section 22. A number of changes are made to Section 1405,Nonencroachments: 1405(1): "Mechanical devices" is removed(no longer appears in most cities' codes);"gutters" is added; "similar building elements"replaces"the like"to emphasize that these are parts of the principal building rather than free-standing fixtures. Gaffron stated there is a list of items that are common features of a house, such as chimneys, flues, meters, etc. The City has added gutters and other similar building elements to say that these are parts of the building and not something separate. Name plate signs and other signage are subject to the provisions of a different section of the code. Terraces, steps, uncovered porches, stoops or other similar structures which do not extend above the height of the ground floor level of the principal building are already in the code. Schoenzeit asked what the ground floor level would be. Gaffron stated Staff has considered that to be the lowest floor but there is not a definition in the code as to what it specifically is. The ground floor is the level you can walk out but it is not necessarily a walkout. - Schoenzeit stated the other piece in the previous discussion was if it was below the neighboring property. Gaffron noted that has not been addressed in this section. The Planning Commission had talked about window wells which do not extend more than five feet from the building and other items such as driveways and sidewalks. Schoenzeit stated the language,not to extend above the height of the ground floor of the principal building was one item discussed by the Planning Commission previously, and the other one that was discussed was when you are below the neighbor's property, such as a retaining wall,or there is a large differential between the two,you can have a terrace at the base of it,and if you are above it,you could put a wall on your side. Page 22 of 26