SUMMARY OF PRELIMINARY RECOMMENDATIONS

FOR PUBLIC WORKSHOP

MAY 5, 2008

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

1. Keep the uses but redefine the dimensional requirements of the Forestry & Agriculture (F&A) District

a. Keep faith with the stated purpose of the F&A District, namely to support farming, forestry, and other resource-based uses, prevent premature development of land, and retain areas for non-intensive uses

b. Increase the required minimum lot area from 80,000 square feet to 160,000 square feet (and reduce the maximum net residential density from 1 unit per 80,000 square feet to 1 unit per 160,000 square feet)

c. Require subdivisions to follow a conservation subdivision format, with:

· Minimum lot area of 20,000 square feet

· Maximum lot area of 60,000 square feet

· Minimum of 55% of subdivision parcel dedicated to open space[1]

2. Create a new Low Density Residential (LDR) zoning district

a. Purpose of district is to accommodate a mixture of residential uses, open space uses, and rural uses compatible with a low-density residential environment.

b. Rezone from F&A to LDR an area roughly between Stillwater Avenue and Taylor Road.

c. Provide for permitted uses similar to the existing F&A district uses, with some MDR-type uses mixed in.

d. Establish flexible lot area standards as follows

· Minimum lot area of 60,000 square feet

· In subdivisions, lot area may be as small as 30,000 square feet, as long as the average of all lots in the subdivision is at least 60,000 square feet

e. Provide for optional clustered residential development with off-site sewer or on-site engineered community wastewater disposal system, with maximum net residential density of one unit per 20,000 square feet

3. Rezone to Medium Density Residential an area between the Basin and the Golf Course, where public sewer and water services are available

4. Extend the Medium Density Residential District along the east side of Route 2 from the Golf Course south to the existing Commercial-2 District boundary, but with subdivisions subject to mandatory clustering

a. Purpose would be to encourage well-designed residential development on the river side of Route 2 while preserving the open space character of this gateway area into Orono

b. Setbacks of subdivisions from Route 2 would be deep (200 feet), and subdivisions would have to comply with the existing Residential Cluster standards of the Land Use Ordinance

5. Adjust zoning in two small locations now zoned F&A to reflect existing conditions

a. The Orono portion of Moose Island in Pushaw Lake would be Shoreland Area Resource Protection

b. A small group of lots along Route 2 in the vicinity of the former Oronoko Restaurant site the Linkview Motel would be zoned Commercial-2.

6. Create an overlay district for the Stillwater Avenue corridor to allow low impact businesses

a. Purpose is to allow small-scale businesses that generate limited amounts of traffic and parking demands, similar to several existing businesses in the corridor, to locate along Stillwater Avenue without having to resort to home occupations.

b. The overlay district would be 500 feet either side of Stillwater Avenue or to the boundary of the adjacent Economic Development Zone.

c. This district would overlay the new Low Density Residential District; most of the permitted uses and dimensional standards of the LDR District would apply, but within the overlay district, a performance-based “low impact use” would be allowed.

· A “low impact use” would be limited in size (2,500 sq. ft.), amount of traffic generated, number and location of parking spaces, large truck deliveries, noise generation, and outdoor storage.

[1] The open space, unless otherwise designated by the property owner, is private open space held by a homeowners’ association for the benefit of the lot owners.