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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Tuesday, May 28, 2013 7:00 o’clock p.m. _____________________________________________________________________________________ Page 5 of 18 (3. #13-3596 CITY OF ORONO – ACCESSORY USES AND STRUCTURES – ZONING ORDINANCE AMENDMENT, Continued) McMillan asked if it would be a variance for both a freestanding structure and an attached structure. Mattick recommended the Council just set it at a specific height for both. Gaffron stated the next question would be whether the City wants to list the things that a variance would be granted for. Mattick recommended the City not create a variance list. Gaffron noted Items A and B identify a list of items, and if you want to go higher than 30 feet, a person would need to go through the variance process. The intent is that everything has to meet the height restrictions, and anything higher than that would require a variance, including church spires. Mattick commented a lot of churches do not have the high spires anymore but there will be certain districts where they are more common as an allowed use. Mattick stated he understands parapet walls but that basically height is height. Bremer noted historically Item C has been included and asked if that would be removed as well. Gaffron stated the City Council probably should take a close look at the list, which includes things that are typically higher than your average structure, such as an elevator penthouse, HVAC or cooling towers, and if there is a 30-foot height restriction, anything above that would require a variance. Mattick stated you could either grant a variance or treat it as a non-encroachment within a specific zone. The City currently does that with side setbacks. Mattick stated you should not really need a conditional use permit for an elevator shaft. Gaffron stated Staff may want to draft something that allows those items at certain standards. Bremer stated it would not be in that section. Gaffron noted the title of that section is height of structures but that Staff will need to look at that closer. Gaffron stated as it relates to alternative energy systems, the draft ordinance adds “solar electric and solar thermal systems” and “geothermal systems” to the list of allowed accessory uses within each zoning district. As a complement to this, or as an alternative to including them in the list, the City Council may want to, at some point, establish standards for such systems. The best option for accomplishing this may be to establish a separate section under Article X – Supplementary Requirements and Restrictions; Division 1, entitled Alternative Energy Systems. This section would define the various types of alternate energy systems and incorporate a set of standards for each of the listed uses. Gaffron noted he has attached some language from other cities in his memorandum. Item #03 - CC Agenda - 06/10/2013 Approval of Council Minutes 05/28/2013 [Page 5 of 18]