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MINUTES OF THE <br /> ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING <br /> Monday,July 17,2017 <br /> 6:30 o'clock p.m. <br /> 6. 17-3953 CITY OF ORONO,TEXT AMENDMENT,NON-ENCROACHMENTS,8:42 <br /> P.M.—9:10 P.M. <br /> Barnhart stated in February the Planning Commission reviewed non-encroachments. Following a review <br /> by the City Council,some changes were made to those. The amendment allowed retaining walls,planters <br /> and similar structures in all required yards when certain conditions are met. <br /> Retaining walls,planters and similar structures has been interpreted to include planter/landscaping edging <br /> of stone,wood and plastic,boulder fire rings,and boulder lot line demarcation. Retaining walls are not <br /> included in the hardcover calculations. It has come to Staff's attention that perhaps the intent was not to <br /> include lake yards. <br /> If the intent is not to allow planters or similar structures, such as boulder fire rings, landscaping edging or <br /> flower beds,the ordinance should be amended. Staff is asking for clarification in terms of what the intent <br /> is. Barnhart indicated he understood the ordinance to allow relatively modest improvements in a setback <br /> situation that are not impactful to the neighbors. The challenge Staff has is that it is fairly prevalent along <br /> the lake. Barnhart noted the ones that currently exist would be allowed to remain. <br /> Thiesse stated one of the goals of the City is to protect the lake and that he is not sure how isolated, small <br /> items that are not connected to the lake would cause a problem to the lake. <br /> Schoenzeit stated if 20 percent of the homes have a fire ring and then all of a sudden the City makes them <br /> non-conforming,that seems silly. <br /> Thiesse commented there are also some children play structures that are very large near the lake. <br /> Landgraver stated he always understood the ordinance to be in the context of side yards and that it has <br /> been the City's desire to reduce impediments to people moving out to the side of their property. <br /> Landgraver stated he does not believe the Planning Commission ever discussed the lake side. <br /> Thiesse asked where fire rings would be allowed. <br /> Schoenzeit stated if there is a 10-foot setback,the fire ring should not be located within that. <br /> Barnhart stated a fire ring is similar to a planter or a similar structure that are less than two feet in height <br /> but that a fire ring has to comply with additional requirements, such as a 25-foot yard setback from the <br /> house or other structure. <br /> Barnhart stated it appears from aerial photographs that approximately one out of every three lots on the <br /> lake has some sort of hardcover in the lake yard. Staff did receive a complaint,which is why this is being <br /> brought forward. Barnhart stated he does not see this as a huge issue but that he wants to make sure the <br /> intent of the ordinance is being met. <br /> Leskinen commented she is not sure whether it is necessary to go to this level, especially since the <br /> structures would be allowed to remain. Leskinen stated the things that are problematic to the lake are <br /> addressed elsewhere in the code. <br /> Page 17 of 20 <br />