Orono residents support amended land use rule

ORONO – Residents voiced approval for the proposed amended land use ordinance at a council meeting Monday night.

A vote on the amended ordinance could come as soon as May, according to town officials.

One amendment reflected changes to the requirements for planned unit developments – parcels in which buildings are focused into a small section to allow for more green space.

PUDs require a minimum parcel size of 20 acres. Proposed changes would reduce the size to 5 acres.

“I think a good way to prevent sprawl is with the 5-acre PUD,” said Orono resident Sally Jacobs. Jacobs also said the green space from PUDs should be kept together to create large blocks and not “isolated” areas.

The amended ordinance also called for new uses on Ayers Island – the town’s only industrial zone and site of University of Maine professor George Markowsky’s proposed research and development park.

While new proposed uses included medical office buildings, civil service clubhouses and restaurants, Markowsky voiced some disapproval with uses that didn’t make the cut at Ayers Island Task Force meetings during the last few months.

“The original lease we signed with the town called for a conference center, although hotels and motels are not allowed,” Markowsky said. He added that he had thought about adding a copy center although it wouldn’t be allowed under the amended ordinance.

The ordinance will come up for review at the planning board meeting at 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 17, in council chambers.