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MINUTES OF THE <br />ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING <br />Monday, September 22, 2014 <br />7:00 o’clock p.m. <br />_____________________________________________________________________________________ <br />  <br />  Page 8 of 18  <br />(7. #14-3682 JAMES AND MARGARET KELLY, 1855 CONCORDIA STREET – AFTER-THE- <br />FACT CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT – RESOLUTION NO. 6449, Continued) <br /> <br />Curtis indicated the Code does not dictate types of plants but that in the past the City has had a landscape <br />architect review landscape plans. <br /> <br />McMillan stated the City’s buffer is not the traditional DNR buffer. McMillan asked if hostas could be <br />planted as a buffer under City code. <br /> <br />Curtis stated the City does not have a code regulating vegetation in the buffer area. <br /> <br />McMillan asked if the property owners are provided with any type of guidelines for the type of vegetation <br />that should be planted in a buffer area. <br /> <br />Curtis indicated Staff requested the applicants provide a landscape plan, which the Planning Commission <br />reviewed. Curtis stated the Planning Commission did not provide much comment on the types of plants <br />that were proposed to be planted but that Staff could review the list of plants and guide the applicants to <br />perhaps look at the list of plants suggested by the DNR. <br /> <br />McMillan asked if the Watershed District would be able to provide any assistance in that regard. <br /> <br />Mack stated the Watershed District does have suggested guidelines or sample planting lists that are <br />germane to certain sites. <br /> <br />McMillan asked if Exhibit B is the list of plants for the buffer. <br /> <br />Curtis indicated it is. <br /> <br />Levang stated to her knowledge, given the plants being proposed, they would not have a lot of root mass. <br /> <br />McMillan commented it is more like a perennial garden than a shoreline buffer. McMillan stated it is not <br />something that can be resolved tonight but that perhaps Staff should take a closer look at it. <br /> <br />Martini stated when Staff typically reviews these types of applications they look at it from the standpoint <br />of erosion potential. Martini stated depending on the conditions and the concerns, some suggestions are <br />provided for the type of plants that should be considered. Martini stated on this property the buffer area is <br />flatter and has less erosion potential. Martini indicated Staff would be looking for a more natural looking <br />shoreline that would provide some filtration to help the water quality. <br /> <br />McMillan stated a number of the listed plants are more plants that would be placed around someone’s <br />house and are not native plants. McMillan stated she would like to see more traditional, native plants in <br />future applications. <br /> <br />Bremer stated in her view the City Council should be careful about recommending specific type of plants <br />for a particular lot because there are a number of lots that have similar types of plants near the shoreline. <br /> <br />McMillan stated if the City is interested in having a natural looking shoreline, they should be more <br />specific on the types of plants that should be planted along the shoreline.