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MINUTES OF THE <br />ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING <br />Monday, August 10, 2009 <br />7:00 o’clock p.m. <br />_____________________________________________________________________________________ <br /> <br />PAGE 6 <br />Ward Edwards, 2474 Carman Street, stated he is in agreement with his brother’s comments. <br /> <br />Batty distributed a sketch plan of their proposal and the results of a parking usage study that they have <br />conducted. <br /> <br />Batty stated eight parking spaces in the southeast corner in the lower parking lot could be added if four <br />trees were removed, but that the owner has instructed him to not add those parking spaces in order to <br />preserve the trees in that area. <br /> <br />Batty noted they did receive some complaints regarding the stairwell. By eliminating the retaining walls, <br />the stairway would be opened up. In addition, an informal traffic and parking usage study has been <br />completed and it shows that the existing tenants are not utilizing all of the parking even at peak hours. <br /> <br />Batty stated they have had several meetings with the state highway department regarding the right-hand <br />turning lane and have requested that they evaluate whether anything could be done in that area to improve <br />the situation. It was the state highway department’s opinion that short of making substantive changes in <br />the curb lines, which would negatively impact the driving lanes, there is not much that can be done to <br />improve the traffic in the area. <br /> <br />Habib stated he is the owner of the property and currently resides in California. Habib agreed the lighting <br />in the parking lot is not desirable and that he has spoken with Xcel about relocating the poles but that he <br />was told they cannot be moved. Habib indicated he is attempting to work with the neighbors on the <br />issues that they have raised. <br /> <br />Bertagnoli stated they would like to see the middle lights shut off. <br /> <br />Murphy stated in his view the main issues that should be addressed prior to addressing the lighting and <br />other smaller issues are the setbacks, the parking, hardcover and structural coverage. Murphy stated he <br />would like to see those issues resolved and that in his opinion the proposal is simply too much for the site. <br /> <br />Habib stated in order to make this structure economically feasible, he has to maximize the property. <br />Habib indicated he would like the City Council to provide some direction on what they would like to see <br />for the property. <br /> <br />McMillan noted the applicant has received direction on the setbacks and the hardcover by virtue of the <br />City’s ordinances and that economic factors are not considered a hardship by the Council. McMillan <br />stated as the owner of the property, he will need to make a decision on what he can economically afford <br />to construct. <br /> <br />Batty pointed out the property currently does not conform with setbacks and structural coverage. <br /> <br />McMillan stated because the building is not compliant currently does not mean that he can maximize the <br />property. <br /> <br />Habib stated if his proposal is not approved, it is likely that he would not improve the property at all. <br /> <br />Batty noted at one time there was another building that existed in the exact same area where they are <br />proposing one of the additions and that they are looking at whether there are any creative options <br />available to them that would allow them to improve the property and increase the rentability of the <br />Item #02 - CC Agenda - 08/24/09 <br />Approval of Council Minutes 08/10/09 [Page 6 of 12]