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MINUTES OF THE <br />ORONO CITY PLANNING COMMISSION <br />Monday, October 21, 2013 <br />6:30 o’clock p.m. <br />_____________________________________________________________________________________ <br />  <br />Page 38 of 42  <br />  <br />Thiesse noted there is still approximately 50 percent of the property that is proposed to remain as open <br />space. <br /> <br />Leskinen stated she has trouble of delaying it on the back of an individual property owner. <br /> <br />Leskinen moved, Schoenzeit seconded, to recommend approval of Application No. 13-3639, Source <br />Land Capital, LLC, on behalf of Grant Wenkstern, 405 North Arm Drive, granting of a <br />Comprehensive Plan Amendment based on Staff’s recommendations outlined as A through G on <br />Page 9 of Staff’s report. VOTE: Ayes 6, Nays 1, McGrann Opposed. <br /> <br />Grittman stated if the Planning Commission has some specific design direction, they should provide that <br />to the applicant. <br /> <br />Leskinen noted the motion was just on the Comprehensive Plan Amendment and that the Planning <br />Commission will next discuss the sketch plan. <br /> <br />Lemke stated he likes the clustering option but that he has some issues with the road being too close to <br />the two property owners. Lemke stated in his view it is likely some of the water issues would be <br />mitigated with the construction of the road. <br /> <br />Thiesse asked if the cul-de-sac to the right could accommodate a road and that that area seems to be a <br />better location than running it through the two properties. <br /> <br />Gaffron indicated there is a 1,000 or 1,100 lineal foot limitation on cul-de-sacs and that he is not sure <br />whether that area could accommodate it. <br /> <br />Hiller stated they would be open to exploring options and that they wanted to present an option that took <br />into account the neighbors’ concerns. Hiller indicated it was their understanding that there needs to be <br />two entrances/exits to the development. <br /> <br />Thiesse asked if it is possible to bring the six lots to the northwest into the project with a cul-de-sac so the <br />development is totally contained. Thiesse requested the developer explore that option. <br /> <br />Hiller noted this is a low area which is why they laid it out the way they did. <br /> <br />Leskinen stated she was happy to see the change in the relocation of the entrance off of North Arm, which <br />was a big concern for the neighbors. <br /> <br />Schoenzeit stated unfortunately the City Code in this process does not require the developer to discuss the <br />digital infrastructure. Schoenzeit pointed out this part of Orono has a very weak communications <br />infrastructure and that it is likely the expectation of these homes in the $600,000 to the $2 million range <br />will be that they will have Internet access or the ability to make a cell phone call. Schoenzeit stated he <br />would encourage the developer to show how they have reached out to Verizon to perhaps bring in a cell <br />tower or otherwise develop some type of digital plan. Schoenzeit stated while the City has done a lot of <br />work getting the wire to people’s houses, the Internet service is slow and the phone lines get tied up. <br /> <br />Hiller stated they have not gotten that far in the process but they will see what they can do. <br /> <br />Item #01 - PC Agenda - 11/18/2013 <br />Approval of Planning Commission Minutes 10/21/2013 <br />[Page 38 of 42]