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MINUTES OF THE <br />ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING <br />Monday, July 21, 2014 <br />6:30 o’clock p.m. <br />_____________________________________________________________________________________ <br />  <br />Page 27 of 30  <br />  <br /> <br />Johncox stated it could be rented out to an electrical company that needs warehouse space along with <br />some office space. Johncox stated he plans on using the space at least for the next five years or so. <br /> <br />Chair Leskinen opened the public hearing at 8:58 p.m. <br /> <br />There were no public comments regarding this application. <br /> <br />Chair Leskinen closed the public hearing at 8:58 p.m. <br />Leskinen stated the Planning Commission has discussed in the past that if the uses can be made <br />independent of each other, that that is something that needs to be closely looked at. Leskinen stated if an <br />office/warehouse is to become a permitted use in this district, the standards and ratios would need to be <br />very clear if the City goes the route of a zoning code amendment. <br /> <br />Landgraver stated typically the warehouse space is directly linked to the office space and that in the <br />example given earlier, there were three or four separate businesses in the building. <br /> <br />Johncox noted there are only 14-foot ceilings and that it would be difficult to use it as a true warehouse. <br />Johncox indicated it really would have to be looked at as a storage area. <br /> <br />Thiesse stated he has a difficult time envisioning it as a warehouse. <br /> <br />Leskinen stated whether it is called material storage or a warehouse, it should be used in conjunction with <br />the office space. <br /> <br />Schoenzeit stated a grocery store will have an office front with storage in the back. Schoenzeit stated the <br />question is whether there is a supply and demand for this type of use in this area. Schoenzeit stated in his <br />view the City should encourage this type of investment given the fact that the building has been for sale <br />for five years. <br /> <br />Thiesse stated if someone cannot utilize a forklift in the area, it should not be defined as a warehouse and <br />that materials storage area might be a better term. <br /> <br />McGrann stated the Planning Commission should look at this as storage and not a warehouse. <br /> <br />Schoenzeit noted the applicant would not have a retail office. <br /> <br />McGrann stated it could be retail or more service related, such as a cleaning company. <br /> <br />Schoenzeit stated retail implies that people will be coming to the building. <br /> <br />Mack stated there could also be some additional building codes that need to be addressed based on the <br />materials storage and cleaning supplies that would be stored there. Mack stated the use should be <br />defined. <br /> <br />Johncox stated no chemicals would be manufactured there but that they would be stored there. <br /> <br />Item #01 - PC Agenda - 08/18/2014 <br />Approval of Planning Commission Minutes <br />[Page 27 of 30]