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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-04-1973 Planning MinutesVILLAGE OF ORONO Special Session of the Planning Commission, April 4, 1973 The Planning Commission met on the above date with the following members present: Chairman Poisson, Elliott, Gasch, Hays, Kullberg, Ryerse, and Van Nest, Absent: Guthrie, Kokesh, Paurus, and Searles. Kokesh arrived at 7:35 P.il. Chairman Poisson explained that the purpose of the meeting was to discuss the I.D.S. proposal. The Zoning Administrator was asked to review the I.O.S. application for a 143,750 sq. ft, enclosed mall sliopping center, 20,000 sq, ft, of office space, and 175 apartment units. This project is requesting the following of the Village: 1. Rezone land presently zoned B-1 and R-IC to U-3, 2, A conditional use permit to allow apart­ ments in a R-3 zone. 3. A variance for the height of the apart­ ment building and the density of the housing units. 4. The vacation of Kelly Avenue. iir, Thorson, the architect for the I.D.S. proposal wanted to emphasize that Kelly Avenue would not be vacated, but rerouted. Hr. Thorson explained in greater detail the amount of underground parking and the height of the apartments, which would be five stories above the shopping center. 7:30 P.M. I.D.S. PROPOSAL Chairman Poisson asked the Zoning Administrator to present the staff reviewal of the application, Mr. Marston announced some corrections tliat the Planning Commission members were to make in the commercial floor space for the Navarre area. With the corrections, the total square footage for the Navarre commercial development would be approximately 90,000 sq. ft. The square footage of commercial space was then used for calculating present traffic generation figures for the I.D.S. project. The study indicated that the traffic generated would increase by almost 331. With the addition of turn lanes at the intersection of County Roads #15 9 #19, it would be possible to increase the traffic capacity by 50%, and with demand actuated seinaphones and possible road by-passes in the Navarre area the capacity (Continued) ■A i lUNUTES OF A SPECIAL MEETING HELD APRIL 4, 1973 of the intersection could be further according to the Barton-Ashman traffic study, 60| of the shopping center would be coming from the north along County Road #19, wonii'^h! ®*isting road network traffic capable of handling the increased Page 2 l.D.S. PROPO*'* (Continued) A letter from the chairman of the Park Commission was read and it expressed the unanimous opinion of the Park Commission land l.D.S. intended to dedicate to Tu® n ^?^S® ^® desirable park property. The Park Cor^ission felt that public ownership ®f this land would be desirable even if the Village a: to pay the sewer and water assessment*. Joan Lattin, the former Village Treasurer, explained that the assessments for sewer and water for the land that would $30^000?“^*** •>« approximately At the request of the Village, Fire Chief Orn of the Mound Fire Department, submitted comments concerning fire safety. Mr. Orn*s letter was read and jome of his comments were: II'® *^“llding should have sprinklers on all floors. b. The structure should be equipped with heat and smoke indicators. a;.try'ir?‘?h| fi^e'deJ^rfSe;!?!*** d. Each floor should have fire department hose connections, e. A water reservoir should possibly be constructed. ^ f. A 100* aerial platform truck was needed. The Village Engineer reviewed his report concerning the water needs for adequate fire protection in the Navarre area. Mr. Mills explained that the water system was designed to adequately handle one-two, or possibly three l.D.S. projects. If, however, several fires broke out while a fire was’being fought at tiie shopping center and apartment complex, there would possibly be problems with adequate water pressure according to Mr. Mills, ^^^lanning Commission member Van Nest was called Navarre area. These figures had been previously (Continued) MINUTES OF A SPECIAL MEETING HELD APRIL 4, 1973 Page adopted by the Planning Conwission. Elliott explained a survey she had taken of the business people in Navarre, which indicated that they were strongly in favor of the project. I.d.S. PROPOSAL (Contin* Tile Zoning Administrator and the Planning Commission chairman each read memos which cited such problems in the Navarre area as traffic, too much commercially zoned land, and strin development. It was felt that the approval of the 1.0.S. project woulvi help rectify some of these problems. Van Nest asked whether I.O.S. had addressed itself to the hardship clause in Section (32.340 of the Village Ordinance. The Zoning AdminrnrATor said that I.O.S. had not. Van Nest reviewed the recommendation that Brauer § Associates had made concerning the proposal. Cnairnum Poisson asked Tom Louclu, of Brauer 9 Associates, if he had any comments concerning his recommendation of January 22, 1973, since I.O.S. had reduced the number of apartment units tney were requesting. Mr. Loucks felt that the height of the structure conflicted with the desires of the people of Orono as they were expressed at the seminars for the comprehensive plan. He also felt that it would be desirable for tiie comprehensive plan to be completed before any decisions are made regarding the I.D.S. proposal. Van Nest expressed a concern that the I.D.S. request was incompatible with the comprehensive plan that is being considered by the Village. He ^-l3c felt that this proposal would generate more traffic in an area that was already overburdened with traffic and this would tend to increase the value of the surrounding commercial property and thereby drawing more businesses and people into this area. Tiie Planning Commission meeting was opened for comments from the floor at 8:50 P.M. Discussion from the floor was closed at 10:10 P.4. Van Nest moved. Hays seconded, that the I.D.S.'s four requests--rezoning, conditional use, variance, and street vacation--be denied, based on the information the Planning Commission received from the staff. Kullberg moved, Elliott seconded, that the motion be amended so each request by I.D.S. would be ^voted on separately. Motion, Ayes (2) - Nays (6). !i E MINUTES OF A SPECIAL MEETING HELD APRIL 4, 1973 Page 4 Chairaen Poisson felt that nost people objected theto height and sise of the structure and polulation density that this would create, but ne felt conceptual approval should be given with the Planning Conaission concerns forwarded I.O.S. PROPOSAL (Continued) to tne Council. Van Nest expressed hope that the “ ).S,an attempt to ible Council would work with I.i).S. in find some coaproaise that would be acceptaf to both but felt the Planning Conaission should reject the present proposal. Motion, Ayes (S) - Nays (1). Poisson Nay. Elliott and Kullberg abstained. The meeting adjourned at 10:30 P.M, Respectfully subaitird. Dexter J. Marston Zoning Administrator ©