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. (S. #10-3491 CITY OF ORONO - HARDCOVER REGULATIONS AMENDMENT, Continued) Gaffron stated the table compiled by Staff shows that over the last 10 to 11 years, if you look at the depth column, there are very few properties in the 500 to 1,000 foot zone. The table contains all the rebuilds that have occurred on the lakeshore. McMillan indicated she was referring to properties that were not on the lakeshore and how they would be impacted by going with the one number. Gaffron stated it would impact those properties that are currently allowed 35 percent. Bremer noted there would be a number of lots affected on Casco Point by the 25 percent. Rahn stated a number of cities regulate their lakeshore lots with one percentage and then non -abutting lots have a different number. Rahn stated you would not hold the nonlakeshore lots to a more rigid standard. Bremer stated it is her understanding that the DNR standard only regulates the lakeshore lots. The philosophy of why the City protected the 0-75 foot zone is that you can have a huge impact in that zone. Properties that are 500 feet back from the lake can still have a pretty big impact. Bremer stated in speaking to some of the residents, it is her understanding that one of the DNR regulations prohibits building within 100 feet of the lakeshore depending on the lake but it does not have an average lakeshore regulation. Bremer stated that can result in a lot of residences at the 100 -foot mark. Bremer stated if the City wants to understand the DNR reasoning for the regulations, they would have to look at all the other parts of the regulations to see why they were written that way. By doing it piecemeal, the City might be taking one piece of the regulation that they feel is good but overlooking another important piece that is necessary to work in conjunction with it. Bremer stated she would strongly recommend the City look at the other DNR regulations if they are interested in going with the 25 percent. Bremer stated since the City has typically not allowed construction in the 0-75 foot area, once you go to the 0-100 foot line, you will have a number of properties that are nonconforming. Rahn noted on the 15,000 to 20,000 square foot lots, the City typically issues variances for 35 to 45 percent hardcover. Once you add in the 0-75 foot area, those properties will come pretty close to the 25 percent. Rahn noted he has not seen a diagram analyzing that but that in his view they will be relatively close to the 25 percent. McMillan noted a large majority of the Tier 1 properties abut the lake. Rahn stated he would like to see how the parcels align with one another. Rahn stated he is not sure there is the uniform, symmetrical method that they are used to and that in his opinion people will disagree with what zone they are in. Bremer stated the overhead is a good example of what Council Member Rahn was speaking to and that a lot more nonlakeshore properties are included in the same tier as the Lakeshore properties. Bremer stated you have to designate the properties in some way if you want to go with the tier system. Gozola stated the formula is designed to mimic the City's current zone system. The first three zones mimic the City's current zones and the other two tiers regulate the industrial and the RPUD lots. Page 7 of 19