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 23 of 59 Sandy Lindgren, 2501 Kelly Avenue, stated she is here on behalf of the Kelly Cove homeowners association. Lindgren stated they would agree with the other comments expressed by the neighbors and that the president of the homeowners association did send an e-mail last night or today that she would like to be added to the record. Lindgren stated she just found out that the roadway will be right by her driveway and that she does not want that any more than the other neighbors do given the safety concerns. Lindgren stated making a left turn off of Kelly in the morning is almost impossible. Dave Hardten, 2515 Kelly Avenue, stated he is opposed to the project given the amount of increased traffic. The traffic on the north end of Kelly Avenue will likely increase by around 25 percent as a result of this development and would make the situation even more dangerous. People do not obey the right- hand turn lane and go shooting past that. Hardten stated adding several more homes will add to the dangerous situation. Hardten stated if you look at the way the water flows, the majority of the water starts out on the east side of the street and then goes down a fairly aggressive slope into the wetlands. Hardten stated in his view there needs to be a very deep retention pond in that area. Hardten stated as has been mentioned before, the current basin cannot accommodate any more water since it is already flooding. Hardten stated as it relates to the tree cover and the protection from the noise, especially in the wintertime, is not adequate for that volume of homes. Hardten stated this development almost doubles the number of homes on Kelly Avenue if the townhomes across the street are excluded. Alex Ware, 2587 Kelly, stated he is aware of a similar project that came before the Planning Commission a year ago for this property that generated the same type of response from the neighbors. Ware stated the implication from the notice was that the Planning Commission’s desire was to solicit input but that none of the residents were aware of the project until they received the recent post card. The neighbors are currently playing catch up on this project but that they have learned a great deal tonight. Ware stated he certainly understand the desire for moderate income family homes in Orono but that this development will not solve that need and will create additional problems as a result of the added Item #01 - PC Agenda - 10/20/2014 Approval of Planning Commission Minutes 09/15/2014 [Page 23 of 59]