11-17-2014 Planning Commission Packet

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING Monday, October 20, 2014 6:30 o’clock p.m. _____________________________________________________________________________________ Page 1 of 28 ROLL CALL The Orono Planning Commission met on the above-mentioned date with the following members present: Chair Denise Leskinen, Commissioners Bruce Lemke, Christopher McGrann, Chad Olson, Loren Schoenzeit, and John Thiesse. Representing Staff were Community Development Director Andrew Mack, Senior Planner Michael Gaffron, City Planner Melanie Curtis, Consulting City Engineer David Martini, and Recorder Jackie Young. Council Member Printup was present. Commissioner Jon Schwingler arrived at 6:38 p.m. Chair Leskinen called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m., followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. CONSENT AGENDA *1. APPROVAL OF PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTE OF SEPTEMBER 15, 2014 Mack noted under Item No. 4 the name of the architect was misspelled and would be corrected by Staff. Schoenzeit moved, McGrann seconded, to approve the Consent Agenda as amended. VOTE: Ayes 6, Nays 0. NEW BUSINESS 2. #14-3664 DAVID SCHMID AND ANGELA CILIBERTO, 3309 CRYSTAL BAY ROAD, VARIANCE AND CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT AMENDMENT, 6:35 P.M. – 6:45 P.M. David Schmid and Angela Ciliberto, Applicants, were present. Gaffron noted this application was before the Planning Commission earlier this year and was approved by the City Council in June of 2014. The applicants have chosen to request some revisions to the parking area that exists along Crystal Bay Road. The parking area originally was going to be created from a portion of the existing underground garage, which was to be removed, and construction of a new concrete rear retaining wall within the garage footprint. That retaining wall would have been approximately 8.5 feet high and would have required fencing or similar barrier at the top for safety purposes. The applicants are now proposing a parking stall as a parallel stall to the road, which requires an amendment to the approved site plan. The stall will be approximately 24 feet in width and seven to ten feet deep, in the location of the existing driveway and slightly west of it. In addition, all existing walls will be removed and replaced with boulder walls, all of which will be less than four feet in height. Public Works Director Adam Edwards has reviewed the proposed plan and notes that the parallel stall will not impede City street maintenance and will likely create a safer situation for a vehicle exiting the site given the hill on the neighboring property to the east. Grading of the area of the parking stall will create a slope that is less steep and will tie in better with th existing grades on the adjacent property. Site drainage will still be routed along the west side of the stairway as previously approved. Gaffron stated aesthetically the boulder walls may create a more natural look than the existing fieldstone- faced walls. As part of the project, the existing concrete steps will be replaced with a curved stairway Item #01 - PC Agenda - 11/17/2014 Approval of Planning Commission Minutes 10/20/2014 [Page 1 of 28]