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) Curtis stated the tier system alone will probably not reduce the number of variances but that the overall ordinance, in her opinion, will reduce the number of variances. Curtis stated in her view the ordinance does make certain things more logical for the residents. McMillan stated if the Council is going to allow the 0-75 foot area to be included in the hardcover calculation, it should reduce the number of variances. Rahn stated allowing the fabric and giving the property owner a credit for 100 square feet of deck will also help reduce the number of variances. Drazan stated as a resident and as a participant on the task force, in her view the new ordinance makes it easier for the average person to understand and that there is less confusion on how to calculate hardcover. Drazan indicated she came to the task force with the point of view as a resident who had built a house and that they tried to make the regulations clearer and easier for people to understand. Drazan commented the people she has forwarded the information to thought this was a good concept and that it is a positive, good step for Orono to take. Bill Koch, Casco Circle, stated he was before the City Council with a variance request approximately six months ago. Koch stated he would like to see a simplistic plan and something that would protect the ground water and surface water. Koch stated he personally prefers the performance standard. Koch stated when you talk about a property abutting the lake, there should also be consideration given to properties that have stormwater runoff that goes into the stormwater sewers and how that is handled. Koch commented that people who live away from the lake tend to forget the impact that their properties have on the lake and they put the burden on the lake front owners. Koch stated he has not seen water rushing off his property into the lake ever and he has not seen the lake rise when there is a rain event simply from his property. Koch stated he has seen, however, thousands of gallons coming out of the storm sewer or a parking lot, which has a bigger negative impact and that he hopes there isIan awareness of that. Koch stated he hopes the decision of the City Council will be based on facts and not suppositions. In regards to the DNR regulations, he would suggest the City Council have the City Attorney look at them so they know exactly what is being dealt with in the regulations. McMillan closed the public hearing at 7:53 p.m. Printup asked whether the Council would like to look at the DNR regulations closer. Gozola noted one of the things the task force looked at were the draft ordinances of the DNR that have not yet been adopted. McMillan stated the City Council should look at the current DNR regulations. McMillan indicated she would like the City Council to agree on some items that can be finalized in a couple of weeks. Rahn stated it sounds like there are a number of people who are in favor of the tier system but that he would like to compare a couple of properties under the tier system to the DNR regulations. Rahn stated the whole idea behind the hardcover ordinance is to protect the lake. Page 9 of 19