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MINUTES OF THE <br />ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING <br />Tuesday, February 17, 2015 <br />6:30 o’clock p.m. <br />_____________________________________________________________________________________ <br />  <br />Page 7 of 11  <br />  <br />Leskinen stated she is in agreement with Staff on Item b.2 and not include it since it conflicts with b.1. <br />Leskinen indicated she is comfortable with the proposed amendments with the revisions made this <br />evening. <br /> <br />Landgraver asked where the Planning Commission is with the fence height. Landgraver asked if it is <br />Staff’s suggestion that the height is determined by measuring the top of the fence from the ground. <br /> <br />Gaffron stated Sketch 3 would not work since the fence would be at seven feet when the fence is at an <br />angle. Gaffron stated Staff would need to measure the fence at a very vertical point and not at an angle. <br />Gaffron noted someone could argue that a 6-foot panel touching the ground its entire length should still <br />be considered a 6-foot high fence, but from some perspectives it will be higher than six feet from the <br />ground. <br /> <br />Thiesse stated to him that means he cannot buy the standard, off the shelf 6-foot chain link fence sections, <br />and that the Planning Commission should not go that direction. <br /> <br />Gaffron stated it almost forces someone to build the fence on the site and not purchase a prefabbed fence. <br />Gaffron noted last summer the City had an issue where someone constructed a fence as depicted in Sketch <br />1 and technically the fence measured higher than six feet from the ground. <br /> <br />Thiesse stated it depends on where someone is measuring from. Thiesse stated the axis of the fence is <br />perpendicular to the ground, and if you measure a standard fence, the post will be six feet high, with the <br />panels in between, which would be Sketch 3. Thiese stated in his view it could be argued that Sketch 3 is <br />a 6-foot high fence. <br /> <br />Gaffron asked if it should read six feet perpendicular to the grade of the slope. Gaffron stated it would <br />not allow Sketch 1 but it would allow Sketch 3. <br /> <br />Thiesse stated a six-foot panel is standard but that chain link fences come in different widths. <br /> <br />Leskinen asked how many fence complaints the City typically receives. <br /> <br />Gaffron stated the issue is height and that people will sometimes erect a 6-foot high fence when they are <br />only allowed 42 inches. <br /> <br />Leskinen stated the City needs to provide some direction in the ordinance and that it comes down to how <br />detailed it needs to be if it is not a dominant issue. <br /> <br />Gaffron stated the ordinance needs to spell out the standards clearly for enforcement purposes. <br /> <br />Thiesse asked what the worst case scenario would be with Sketch 1. <br /> <br />Landgraver stated in his view Sketch 1 kind of defeats the purpose of having a fence and that it is the <br />uneven slope that will challenge the ordinance. Landgraver stated in his view Sketch 2 or 3 is reasonable <br />and that it should be 6-foot perpendicular to the ground. <br /> <br />Thiesse stated he is leaning more towards Drawing 3. <br /> <br />Item #01 - CC Agenda - 03/16/2015 <br />Approval of Planning Commission Minutes 02/17/2015 <br />[Page 7 of 11]