09-12-2016 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING Monday, August 15, 2016 6:30 o'clock p.m. Thiesse stated meeting those criteria does not necessarily make it a bagel shop. Thiesse asked why this cannot be considered a restaurant based on those same criteria. Schoenzeit stated the applicant is proposing other elements within the building, with the restaurant being a subset of that, and they will not have liquor. Schoenzeit stated in his view this is a compromise that the applicant is proposing. Schwingler stated with the production facility and retail, he does not see it as a full-service restaurant. Barnhart noted coffee and bagels are food products, which are found to be appropriate in a B-5 district in 1998. There was also concern at that time about expansion of those uses to the detriment of the adjacent neighborhood, which is why those four criteria are included. Thiesse stated the Planning Commission has a menu in front of them that has an entree' selection that will compete with the Narrows. Barnhart stated the City does not play favorites when it comes to competition and that the impact to the neighborhood was the main concern. Schoenzeit stated it is the City's job to offer a level playing field and not help or hurt the competition. The benefit to the public is more choices and not less. Thiesse asked if he should not look at the menu that was provided. Schoenzeit stated the menu is not criteria that the code judges them on other than liquor. Thiesse stated in his opinion it should. Thiesse commented it cannot be called a bagel shop and then sell what they are proposing to sell. Wilson stated they are identifying a big issue in the way any business district is zoned and the uses as defined are very challenging. Wilson commented they are still wondering why this B zoning is next to a different B zoning and that they tried to work within the existing code. Wilson noted there is one Page 11 of 15