03-13-2017 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday March 13,2017 7:00 o'clock p.m. 14. #17-3896 CITY OF ORONO TEXT AMENDMENT: STRUCTURAL COVERAGE— ORDINANCE No. 187—Continued- Seals stated if the goal is to be more flexible,Option B would accomplish that and would eliminate a number of variance requests that the City heard last year. There were no public comments received. Crosby stated the Council has to be concerned about the hardcover issue. Crosby stated when someone drives along the lakeshore,you can tell the difference between Orono and the other communities. Walsh noted the hardcover will not be changed under this ordinance. Seals moved,Printup seconded,to approve Option B,with the structural coverage limit being raised from 15 percent to 20 percent,and to adopt ORDINANCE NO. 187,a Third Series,an Ordinance Amending the Code of Ordinances Pertaining to Removing Structural Coverage Restrictions and Adding Hardcover Limitations to Certain Lots Within the City of Orono. Barnhart noted for lots less than 10,000 square feet,they currently are allowed 1,500 squaze feet, and to be consistent it should be raised to 2,000 square feet. VOTE: Ayes 5,Nays 0. 15. #17-3897 CITY OF ORONO TEXT AMENDMENT: SPECIAL EVENTS—ORDINANCE -Tabled Barnhart stated the intent of the last ordinance is to close a loophole in the City's ordinance relating to special events. Last summer/fall Staff learned of an issue in a neighborhood where a property owner held a series of private events in their private home. These events did not require a permit due to the patrons being bused in. There was no on-street parking,no trash generated, and no loud noise so it did not fall within the City's special event requirements. The City eventually reviewed it as a home occupation and denied it. The events occurred on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday on several weekends over the summer. At that time a large bus would drive through the neighborhood and deliver the patrons to the house. The neighbors felt uncomfortable with that. Barnhart stated the draft ordinance is intended to define occasional private parties. The current ordinance exempts private parties from special event permits. The dra8 ordinance adjusts the definitions of private and special events and attempts to differentiate between an occasional private party and one that is more impactful to neighborhoods. Barnhart stated Staff s discussion centered around the frequency of the events and what the true impact was of the events. Traffic was not really an issue given the large bus delivering the patrons so it came down to the frequency. The draft ordinance would allow a property to have three private events a year without a permit from the City. The fourth event would require the issuance of a permit. Barnhart stated Page 25 of 32