12-09-2013 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE � ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday,December 9,2013 6:30 o'clock p.m. (9. #13-3637 WILLI ABBOTT ON BEHALF OF THE BROADWAY GROUP,LLC, 2350 WATERTOWN ROAD,AND X�,'Y WILLOW DRIVE NORTH—PRELIMINARY SUBDIVISION, Continued) McMillan stated one of her concerns with the development is that when they start building the homes,the houses will get bigger, but that she does like what has been proposed for visuals. Abbott stated their group is going to sit down and create footprints and basic plans for the homes on these lots and that there will be very little variance for accommodating people who want to build big homes. Abbott indicated they want to keep the price down and move the lots. McMillan stated a three-car garage usually goes with a larger home, which is a concern. Abbott stated he is not going to do that and that he is agreeable to limiting the size of the homes in a development agreement. McMillan stated in her view the layout is awkward and that when you look at the site, the cul-de-sac looks very big and appears to take up half of the dry buildable. McMillan commented she understands that he is doing his best to make the property work but that it is not the most aesthetically pleasing. McMillan indicated she gets concerned with having narrow lots off of a cul-de-sac and that it feels like a piecemeal design. Abbott stated he attempted to purchase some land from one of the neighbors but he was not willing to do that. McMillan commented she likes a lot of the elements that are being proposed but that she is not sure whether she can support three homes along the cul-de-sac. Abbott stated they are also attempting to keep the cost of the lots and homes down, and if the number of homes is reduced, that will raise the price on the other lots. Abbott indicated the current price of the lots along Willow is around $500,000 and in the middle sixes on the back lots. Abbott stated if another lot is taken out,they will be back to constructing bigger homes. Abbott noted the cost to bring water into this development is astronomical, which is why they are going with private wells. McMillan commented the cost of the land makes it difficult to do development in general in Orono. Abbott stated adding a little more density helps keep the costs down. Abbott concurred the cul-de-sac is a little weird but that they wanted to avoid flag lots. Abbott noted they are also allowing for more parking, which is another expense. Abbott stated there is not a perfect answer for this development, but based on the response they have gotten, people are interested in this type of lot. Anderson stated given what the developer has to work with, it appears he has done a nice job with varying the setbacks on the homes. Anderson noted this area is guided for two to three homes per acre and that the developer is proposing 1.9 units, which is somewhat modest. Anderson asked whether there are other options to deal with the stormwater rather than the rain gardens. Page 24 of 35