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MINUTES OF THE <br /> ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING <br /> Monday,February 13,2017 <br /> 7:00 o'clock p.m. <br /> Carlson stated she is here tonight to request that her neighborhood and other small neighborhoods be <br /> given the opportunity to have conversations regarding their zoning designations. Carlson stated in her <br /> view it is most appropriate that these discussions be held as part of the Comprehensive Plan update and <br /> that she would like to know what to do from this point. <br /> Walsh suggested she provide her name to Mr. Barnhart if she would like to be involved in this process. <br /> Walsh commented the more people involved,the better. <br /> Carlson asked if the small lot neighborhood zoning will be part of the Comprehensive Plan Update. <br /> Printup stated his idea was to keep it separate from the Comprehensive Plan Update and have a discussion <br /> on what can be done to help out the smaller lot neighborhoods. Printup stated one of the things that the <br /> Council talks about quite often is that it does not make sense to have two-acre density apply on some of <br /> these smaller lots. <br /> Carlson stated the intent back in the 1970s was that people would purchase more than one lot and create <br /> bigger lots. Carlson stated that has not happened in her neighborhood. <br /> Printup commented that discussion has not gone anywhere but that he has been advocating for that <br /> discussion because some kind of attention needs to be paid to those issues. <br /> Carlson asked why that discussion would be separate from the Comprehensive Plan Update. Carlson <br /> stated an email discussion she had back in 2013 with Planner Gaffron suggested to her that to change the <br /> zoning would take an amendment of the Comprehensive Plan,that it would be very time-consuming for <br /> Staff, and that the time to do it would be during the update. <br /> Printup stated maybe what she is interested in is subdividing. <br /> Carlson stated her standpoint was not solely for herself but as someone who lives in the area for 33 years. <br /> Currently people in her neighborhood have great difficulty building a garage or remodeling their house <br /> the way it would be aesthetically the best because they are impeded by the variance process and the costs. <br /> Printup asked if there is a way to do that without changing the zoning. <br /> Carlson stated most likely not,especially when the lot is only a tenth of an acre but is in a two-acre zone. <br /> Printup stated that is why he is eager to have that conversation. <br /> Walsh stated the Council is looking at the issues involved with smaller lots and how the process can be <br /> made easier. Walsh stated he is not sure the Comprehensive Plan Update process will solve those issues. <br /> Barnhart stated to his understanding previous Councils have recognized there is a problem with the <br /> smaller lots but that they need to look at the whole city comprehensively. Barnhart stated the reason why <br /> it is being recommended to break it apart is to allow a more detailed discussion on those issues. Barnhart <br /> stated the end result may not be a rezoning but rather revising some of the regulations. Barnhart stated <br /> the expectation is to move the discussion on the smaller lot neighborhoods to the front of the line and that <br /> it may require a Comprehensive Plan amendment or it may not. <br /> Page 13 of 18 <br />