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MINUTES OF THE <br />ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING <br />Monday, May 23, 2011 <br />7:00 o'clock p.m. <br />_____________________________________________________________________________________ <br /> <br /> Page 10 of 24 <br /> <br />(8. #11-3504 PUBLIC HEARING - CITY OF ORONO - ZONING TEXT AMENDMENT <br />RESIDENTIAL ZONING DISTRICTS: GARDEN AS A PERMITTED USE, Continued) <br /> <br />8. No port-a-potty would be permitted <br />9. Retail sales shall be prohibited <br />10. Hours - Dawn to dusk operation <br />11. Parking - user to identify parking for at least two stalls <br />12. No composting on site <br /> <br />Planning Staff finds that it may be appropriate to amend the zoning code to allow private gardens as a <br />permitted use in each residential district. <br /> <br />Staff and the Planning Commission have begun to study the issue of community gardens. In an effort to <br />give direction to the Council, the Planning Commission began to provide possible standards for a zoning <br />code amendment relating to community gardens. However, the consensus of the Planning Commission <br />and Staff is that codification of standards for community gardens, a new use, within the City is premature. <br />This issue should be studied and discussed more extensively by the Council. Additionally, there are a <br />number of policy decisions required before consideration of allowing this type of use on city property. <br /> <br />Staff would recommend the Council table the issue of community gardens for further discussion and <br />review. In order to address the recent request to use the city-owned property behind the Long <br />Lake/Orono fire station for a community garden, Staff is suggesting the following options: <br /> <br />Option 1: Amend City Code Section 66-191 regarding special events in order to define <br /> "community gardens on City property" as a Special Event and issue a Special Event Permit. <br /> The code amendment would be necessary as community gardens do not currently fall under <br /> the category of an "event" covered under the City's Special Event Permit; <br /> <br />Option 2: Amend the Permitted Uses within residential zoning districts allowing gardening as a principal <br /> use and enter into a license agreement with the interested party to utilize the city-owned <br /> property for one season on a trial basis; <br /> <br />Option 3: Designate the city-owned property as a park and enter into a license agreement with the <br /> interested party to use the city-owned park for one season on a trial basis. The park <br /> designation can be removed at any time in the future the Council deems appropriate; <br /> <br />Option 4: Deny the request. <br /> <br />Staff recommends approval of an amendment to allow gardening as a permitted use within all residential <br />districts in the City. Staff recommends the Council consider Option #3 for community gardens. <br /> <br />The City Council should hold a public hearing and consider directing Staff to draft an ordinance in order <br />to allow gardening as a permitted use within all residential zoning districts. The Council should also <br />consider the discussion and the recommendations on community gardens and direct Staff on how to <br />proceed. <br /> <br />Franchot asked if one of the issues before the City Council tonight is whether gardening on a vacant lot <br />should be allowed as a principal use, which is unrelated to community gardening. <br /> <br />Item #02 - CC Agenda - 06/13/2011 <br />Approval of Council Minutes 05/23/2011 [Page 10 of 24]