05-15-2017 Planning Commission Minutes

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CITY OF ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING Monday,May 15,2017 6:30 o'clock p.m. Leskinen commented the request is not unreasonable and is similar to many other variances that have been granted in the past. Leskinen stated in her view the Planning Commission has no grounds for denial based on subsurface water concerns,especially since it is considered to be a buildable lot. Leskinen stated she sees more grounds for approval than denial. Thiesse stated he just wants the developer or builder to be aware that it is a sensitive issue and that people have come forward raising concerns about the issue. Leskinen stated builders and developers are always encouraged to work with the neighbors. Schoenzeit suggested a structural engineer be used to design the foundation. Schwingler commented he understands the neighbors' concerns but that they had the opportunity to purchase the property at fair market value and that it is not a basis for denial. Leskinen moved,Olson seconded,to recommend approval of Application No. 17-3938,TC Homes, Inc.,on behalf of Nancy Bloms, 1325 Rest Point Lane,granting of variances per Staff recommendations. VOTE: Ayes 5,Nays 0. 8. 17-3939 John Bailey,2807 Casco Point Road, Conditional Use Permit,7:52 P.M.—8:44 P.M. John Bailey, Applicant, and Ron Anderson, Final Grade, Incorporated, were present. Curtis stated the property owner is requesting a conditional use permit in order to repair and restore slope failures which occurred in his lakeshore yard in 2014. Since that time the property owner has been attempting to develop a restoration plan that meets both the City's lakeshore goals and his goals. The applicant shared his difficulties with finding an engineer to certify his plans for restoration that did not involve completely denuding the slope and making a significant cut into the yard. The applicant recently provided the City with a plan to restore his lakeshore slope. The project involves removal of the compromised soils, saw tooth cutting of the subgrade, and installation of new compacted soil, a yard drain, a drainage pipe, Filtrex living slope, stabilization ponds, and plantings stabilizing vegetation. An updated plant list was submitted over the weekend and provided to the Planning Commission. A conditional use permit is required as they propose to stabilize the slope by removing approximately 300 cubic yards of compromised soil material and replacing it with approximately 500 cubic yards of angular soil to be compacted and restored. The Consulting City Engineer has reviewed the submitted information and provided the following comments: "The information that has been provided by the applicant indicates that the proposed improvements include more detailed and complex solutions to deal with site drainage and slope stabilization than we had originally anticipated and discussed, including infrastructure along with grading and vegetation. Page 13 of 23