05-15-2017 Planning Commission Packet

Home Browse Search

MINUTES OF THE ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING Monday,April 17,2017 6:30 o'clock p.m. Barnhart stated in 2016,the City processed 41 variances and setback variances related to street or side setbacks were included in 19 of them. Barnhart stated surveys for those properties were looked at to apply the new zoning ordinances. One of the properties had a 1-foot setback but most of the setbacks were in the 11 to 25 feet range. Barnhart stated if the new setbacks are applied based on the draft ordinance,the number of nonconformities is reduced from five to two, so there is some benefit to the new setbacks. Landgraver stated in the past 10 feet has been a fairly firm number. Landgraver asked if the changes would be giving everybody two feet on each side. Barnhart stated the minimum setback would be eight feet on each side. Barnhart stated ten feet is appropriate and does not really create a hardship for most property owners. Thiesse stated in his view 10 feet is reasonable. Amy Nelson asked if this would set a precedent so other people in the same zoning district somewhere else in the City would wonder why they do not fall within under the same jurisdiction. Gaffron stated any 50-foot lots would get the same setback. Gaffron stated if the City is routinely giving people variances to a particular setback,it might as well be put into the code. Barnhart stated what he has heard is that the Planning Commission does not want to go less than ten. The draft ordinance is proposing in four different zoning districts some flexibility from the setback requirements if the lot is nonconforming in width. Landgraver stated in his view the discussion by the Planning Commission would be more vigorous if this had been discussed earlier in the evening. Lemke moved,Leskinen seconded to table Application No. 17-3925,City of Orono,Text Amendment: Small Lots/Setbacks. VOTE: Ayes 6,Nays 0. 13. UPDATE ON CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS HELD ON MARCH 22,2017,AND Page 70 of 72