05-11-2015 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, May 11, 2015 7:00 o'clock p.m. 5. #15-3711 CITY OF ORONO — AMEND CHAPTER 86 TO MODIFY SURVEY REQUIREMENTS FOR SITE PLAN AND LAND ALTERATION PERMITS — ORDINANCE NO. 146 (continued) McMillan stated in her view this is a good start and that the Council can discuss lots smaller than two acres as a second step. McMillan stated she would like to go ahead with this ordinance and then have a separate discussion for the smaller lots. McMillan noted the City has tended to use two -acre lots as a threshold in the past. Printup indicated he is okay with that. McMillan stated she would like to get this on the books to benefit the citizens. Walsh stated all this is doing is benefitting the properties over two acres and that the Council is not doing anything for lots smaller than two acres. Walsh stated this is the time for that conversation. McMillan stated the Council discussed having a separate conversation for lots under two acres and that they could have that discussion in a couple of months. Walsh stated he thought that was what this conversation was going to be about. McMillan noted the smaller lots would have a greater impact. Walsh stated if it still fits the same issues, there should not be any problems. Levang noted the majority of the properties fall within the two acres and that the City needs to cover its bases. Levang indicated she is very comfortable with what the ordinance says. Since the smaller lots will have a bigger impact, the City needs to be mindful of the impact to the neighbors. Levang indicated she is in agreement with Mayor McMillan and that the Council should adopt this ordinance to benefit the residents. Walsh asked if at the next meeting the Council will start actively talking about the lots less than two acres. Walsh stated it was his understanding the whole premise of this discussion was not to do something for everybody with two acres and plus but rather to help the smaller houses and the smaller lots. Walsh stated this ordinance would impact them the most. Levang stated that is not necessarily true. Levang stated she has eight and a half acres but she might want to construct a very small patio. Walsh stated the percentage of that on her property is a very different number. Levang noted the Council gave direction to Staff to come back with standards that the Council could live with. Levang stated the Council should take a vote on the ordinance and see how they feel about it. Walsh stated it was his understanding the Council was trying to solve it for all property owners and not just a certain percentage of property owners. Page 7 of 25