Laserfiche WebLink
MINUTES OF THE <br />ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING <br />Monday, August 19 2013 <br />6:30 o’clock p.m. <br />_____________________________________________________________________________________ <br />  <br />Page 25 of 28  <br />  <br /> <br />Landgraver commented it is difficult to react to something until there is something more concrete. <br /> <br />Wasmoen stated they are looking for whether the Planning Commission in general feels this is an <br />appropriate use for the area. <br /> <br />Schwingler stated the big questions are whether this use is appropriate for the area and can the roads <br />handle the additional traffic. <br /> <br />Gaffron noted this area has been zoned commercial/office use for the past 20 years and suggested the <br />Planning Commission discuss whether, if it is rezoned residential, what the impact of that would be. The <br />area further west towards Kelly Avenue has been zoned and guided for one-acre lots for the last 40 years. <br />Gaffron suggested the Planning Commission focus more on whether they would be comfortable with <br />changing the area from a future commercial strip of some sort to residential. <br /> <br />Gaffron stated the piece that he has a concern about is the substantial woods and whether a development <br />can be created that will preserve that. Gaffron noted this property will be subject to Conservation Design, <br />which may have a large impact on what will ultimately be allowed. <br /> <br />Schwingler asked about the last proposed set of townhomes near the water tower and what impact that <br />had versus what a commercial development would have. Schwingler noted the City had a discussion at <br />the Freshwater Institute about the future planning of Navarre approximately four years ago and that he <br />was wondering what the results of that was. <br /> <br />Gaffron stated as a result of discussions this area was reguided for mixed use in the 2008-2030 Comp <br />plan but the City has not created a mixed use development standard at this point. The Planning <br />Commission should decide whether the area labeled B-4, commercial, should be changed to high-density <br />residential and what impacts that will have on the immediate area. <br /> <br />Landgraver asked if there has been a demand for commercial in this area. <br /> <br />Gaffron indicated there has not been and that the last commercial development in this area eventually was <br />converted into a church. Gaffron noted the property to the northwest contains a residence. The property <br />to the southeast was proposed and approved to have senior housing. That developer cleared a number of <br />trees, then found his approvals had expired and nothing further has been done. <br /> <br />Thiesse commented a development like this could add some energy to the area. <br /> <br />Landgraver commented the area has been designated as commercial for a number of years and there has <br />not been much demand for it and that now maybe it is time to consider something else in the interests of <br />the community. <br /> <br />Lemke stated it seems to be an appropriate area for some type of higher density use. <br /> <br />Wasmoen commented the development would promote more pedestrian traffic and that they would <br />connect to the sidewalks to help facilitate pedestrian movement. <br /> <br />Lemke stated given the nature of the development, it is likely a large number of trees will be lost. <br />Item #01 - PC Agenda - 09/16/2013 <br />Approval of Planning Commission Minutes 08/19/2013 [Page 25 of 28]