Laserfiche WebLink
Document management portal powered by Laserfiche WebLink 9 © 1998-2015 Laserfiche. All rights reserved.
MINUTES OF THE <br />ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING <br />Monday, August 26, 2013 <br />7:00 o’clock p.m. <br />_____________________________________________________________________________________ <br />  <br />    Page 10 of 21   <br />(7. #13-3621 THOMAS WASMOEN ON BEHALF OF JOHN BESSESEN, 2445, 2455, 2465 <br />SHADYWOOD ROAD, 2560 KELLY AVENUE, AND PID 20-117-23-11-0032 – SKETCH PLAN <br />REVIEW, Continued) <br /> <br />Printup indicated he would be looking at more single-family residential rather than townhomes and row <br />houses. Printup stated in his view it would be important to know what Orono’s housing stock is and that <br />he does not know what the vacancy rate is. Printup stated he does not want to add to that vacancy rate. <br /> <br />McMillan asked how many single-family homes could fit into this area. <br /> <br />Gaffron stated the entire site, if all of the properties are acquired, would consist of approximately ten <br />acres and that probably no more than three or four single-family homes would be able to fit in there. <br /> <br />Wasmoen pointed out they are attempting to offer a different type of housing from single-family for <br />people over 55. Wasmoen stated they intend to preserve as much green area and trees as possible. <br /> <br />Levang stated she understands that point but that she is opposed to the higher density and the zoning <br />change. <br /> <br />McMillan noted the clear-cut property is approximately two acres and that townhomes could possibly go <br />in that area. McMillan indicated the memory care project was to help create a buffer and that the <br />developer has to be serious about preserving the trees, which will result in a lot lower density. <br /> <br />Wasmoen asked if the Council has a particular density in mind. <br /> <br />McMillan indicated she cannot put a number on it at this time. <br /> <br />Tom Bessesen, 4500 North Shore Drive, indicated he has been looking at this project for approximately a <br />year and has looked at different ideas to come up with something that would fit in well on the lot. <br />Bessesen indicated he is interested in developing this piece as well as the piece owned by the bank. The <br />church has been over to visit the bank about purchasing the property next to them and if that lot is <br />purchased by the church, they would not have very good access to the back of this property. Bessesen <br />stated one thought was that they could try to get a piece of undeveloped property off the City tax rolls. <br />The Nelsons have also indicated they would like to retire and so he thought they could try to include that. <br /> <br />Bessesen stated their concept plan was an idea to try to bring some senior citizens or empty nesters into a <br />development that is shielded along Kelly Road. Plan B would be to turn the property into something that <br />is economically viable, such as apartment buildings. Bessesen stated they would not ask to change the <br />zoning but would request a PUD or an RPUD. <br /> <br />Bessesen stated they will have to look at what else can be done with the site but given the price of the <br />land, they cannot put up one or two single family homes on the property. Bessesen noted Snyder’s has <br />been closed for a long time and that it would be hard to develop a retail development in this area. <br /> <br />McMillan asked what the next step would be if they wanted to look at other ways of developing the <br />property. <br /> <br />Item #03 - CC Agenda - 09/09/2013 <br />Approval of Council Minutes 08/26/2013 [Page 10 of 21]