10-20-2014 Planning Commission Packet

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING Monday, September 15, 2014 6:30 o’clock p.m. _____________________________________________________________________________________ Page 22 of 59 made an investment into their property with this new structure and that they have not been able to even get to their property at times, which is quite alarming when you consider the fact that emergency vehicles also could not get through the street. Sedgwick stated with all due respect to Staff, she would like to point out that a culvert acts as a conduit, and what it does is it carries water from one area to another area when it is functioning. Sedgwick stated if the culvert is below grade with wetlands and flooding on either side of the road, fixing the collapsed culvert is not the solution to the flooding. Sedgwick stated for 37 years since this CUP was created on the property at 2605 Kelly Avenue for a Type IIII wetland, none of the temporary solutions have worked, such as the raising of the road and the culvert. Sedgwick noted it has been four or five months that the City has not had an on-staff engineer and that she has a heightened interest and a great idea as to how this problem can be resolved, which can be discussed at a future time. Gary Schroeder, 2565 Kelly Avenue, stated the flooding issue pretty much started when they constructed Lund’s and that the covering of the parking lot caused it. Schroeder indicates the water drains right down Kelly Avenue and ends up in the street rather than draining. Schroeder stated the City of Orono has attempted to address the water problems going back into the mid 1960s. Schroeder stated the one thing that has not been brought up is the noise that is generated from the intersection of County Road 19 and 15. If those trees are removed, the noise will increase. Schroeder indicated the noise does increase in the winter when the deciduous trees fall but that there is not the traffic in the winter like there is in the summer. Schroeder stated in his view the trees are a natural buffer zone. Schroeder stated traffic is also a big problem and has been covered. As it relates to property values, if multi-family dwellings are constructed, it will lower the property values that the residents have worked hard to maintain for many years. Schroeder stated the Planning Commission should reject the argument that four homes are harder to design in a spot where five are currently being proposed. Schroeder noted the City of Orono does allow for shared driveways and that he has been sharing his driveway since 1956, which works quite well. Item #01 - PC Agenda - 10/20/2014 Approval of Planning Commission Minutes 09/15/2014 [Page 22 of 59]