03-09-2015 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, March 9, 2015 7:00 o’clock p.m. _____________________________________________________________________________________ Page 14 of 43 (9. #14-3687 REAL ASSETS II, LLC 3720 – 3730 NORTHERN AVENUE – PLAT OF NORTHERN OAKS, continued) Walsh asked whether the City has a hard and fast rule that prohibits the grade from being changed if it does not have a negative impact on the neighborhood. Gaffron stated depending on how much grading the person is doing, it could require a conditional use permit. Gaffron stated Staff could approve it administratively if the grading is just associated with the one house, is less than 500 cubic yards, and is not artificially changing the grade so the person is creating a basement out of a story Walsh asked what would happen if they are changing it from a basement to a walkout. Gaffron indicated a conditional use permit would likely be required. Mark Gronberg, Surveyor, stated he and the developer worked very hard with City Staff and the Watershed District to achieve the correct drainage on the site. Gronberg stated they submitted a plan with proposed grades that had Lots 3 and 4 built up a little because they had to get the water off to the two sides. There was not enough room to put a pond or a stormwater area in the middle due to the way the wetland bows in. Gronberg stated he was surprised when he saw the resolution and had he been part of the discussion regarding the final resolution, he would have objected because it was based on existing grades. Gronberg indicated the resolution did not meet the intent of the whole grading plan of the Watershed District and the City Engineers. Gronberg stated they can still meet the approved grading plan for these homes and that in other developments they have worked off the approved grading plan. McMillan asked how many feet they would like to stack against the homes. Gronberg stated the original grading plan depicted just boxes, and that when they come in with a proposed house, there are sometimes minor changes to the plan. Gronberg noted they did not have to change it much from the approved grading plan. Gaffron stated the biggest changes were in between these two lots and on other side of Lots 3 and 4. McMillan asked if what the Council is being shown is the final plat grading plan. Gaffron indicated it is. Gaffron stated what Mr. Gronberg has provided is showing where there is more pronounced drainage between the homes, deeper ditches, and a little more fill in the front than what was there previously. Gaffron stated there is enough of a change that if you add another foot or two of fill; those stories would go back to being basements. Gronberg stated to his knowledge nothing changed by more than a foot or a foot and a half. Gronberg stated most of that is based on having definite house plans. Walsh asked if he saw this as more of a design/build process.