08-13-2012 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL Monday, August 13, 2012 7:00 o'clock p.m. (5. #10-3491 CITY OF ORONO -HARDCOVER REGULATIONS AMENDMENT, Continued) Bremer asked whether the City Council would still like Planner Gaffron to compare the three different scenarios. Gaffron asked whether the Council would like to go with 25 or 30 percent on the long, deep lakeshore lots. Gaffron noted simply going with 25 percent would create a new zone. Gaffron stated if the City Council would like Staff to analyze all three different scenarios, they might not be able to get it all done in two weeks. Rahn recommended the City Council not rush through this process given the complexity of the issues. Rahn stated it is likely the City will need to make some minor changes to the ordinance in the future but that the Council should take sufficient time now to get it as close to what we want it to be. Mayor McMillan reopened the public hearing at 8:22 p.m. Melissa Musgjerd stated they have recently found a residence in Orono they would like to purchase and that every realtor they have talked to has attempted to convince them not to purchase in Orono given this issue. Musgjerd stated prior to them, four other couples backed out because they did not want to go through the variance process and/or wait for the City Council to act on this ordinance. Musgjerd indicated they will likely be going through the variance process but that this issue is being talked about quite a bit in other communities. There is a lot of negativity towards it to the point where people are saying that you do not want to live in the City of Orono due to these issues. McMillan noted the City of Orono is one of the more restrictive cities on hardcover and that it is the desire of the City to make it easier for residents to construct something on the lake. The variance process will still be in place even if the new ordinance is adopted and there will be uniquely shaped lots that will require variances. Carol Stanberg, 660 Tonkawa, stated when you look at the map, a natural reaction is to say that the red zone is the most restrictive and that there is some inequity. Stanberg stated if you are going to eliminate the tiers, feet would be much more equitable, people with deeper lots would not be penalized, and there would be more flexibility. Rahn commented distance allows more uniformity. Rahn stated the zone system is the way the City currently calculates hardcover and that the City should not make significant changes just to change. Rahn stated in his view the City has made some good changes such as allowing landscape fabric and small decks. Printup moved, Bremer seconded, to table Application #10-3491, City of Orono - Hardcover Regulations Amendment, to the September 10, 2012, City Council meeting. VOTE: Ayes 4, Nays 0. *6. #12-3564 MARTIN WOODY ARCHITECTS ON BEHALF OF DAVE SCOTT, 1905 HERITAGE DRIVE - VARIANCE - RESOLUTION NO. 6159 Bremer moved, Printup seconded, to adopt RESOLUTION NO. 6159, a Resolution Granting a Variance to Orono Municipal Code Section 78-305, for the property located at 1905 Heritage Drive. VOTE: Ayes 4, Nays 0. Page 13 of 19