Council approves Honey Hill preliminary plat after neighbor agreement on tree protections

Orono — The Orono City Council on July 8 approved Resolution 7490, granting preliminary plat approval for the Honey Hill subdivision (LA 24‑30) by a 5–0 vote after the applicant and nearby residents reached an agreement on tree preservation.

The council's decision allowed a developer to create six lots of roughly 2 acres each, served by a private road and private wells and septic systems, after community development staff said the proposal conforms to the comp plan, RR1B two‑acre district standards and shoreland regulations. Melanie (community development staff) told council the Planning Commission had recommended approval 7–0 following a public hearing.

Sean Winkler of Aspect Design Build, the applicant, described the project and a revised landscape and tree‑preservation plan that counts several mature boulevard trees toward required plantings. "We have, I don't have the exact number, but we're 13 short on the proposed planting of trees," Winkler said, noting existing mature trees along the boulevard and on the site that the developer proposes to preserve.

Neighbors Tom and Nancy Sawyer said the mature spruce and arborvitae they planted decades ago form a crucial visual buffer between their home and the proposed development. The Sawmers described a nearby private memorial garden, the Garden of the Sleeping Angels, which they said would overlook the new lots if the trees were removed. Tom Sawyer said the parties had worked "very collaboratively with the builder and developers, so there's really no issues there," and said the developers agreed to a restrictive covenant in the homeowners association to protect the trees.

Council member (speaker 12) moved to approve the preliminary plat and was seconded by Council member (speaker 3). The motion passed, with the mayor calling the vote: "Aye"; the clerk recorded the outcome as 5–0.

The approval is preliminary plat approval only. Staff said the lots will rely on private wells and septic systems and that final engineering and covenant language will be handled through subsequent platting and HOA documents. Melanie told the council she had provided the revised landscape plan and tree‑preservation exhibit to council members that evening.

The council took the action after hearing resident concerns and a developer commitment to preserve mature trees through restrictive covenants; the council did not amend the resolution on the floor. The matter concluded when the council recorded the vote and thanked those who attended. The council noted additional community development updates will be provided when staff returns from vacation.

Resolution: The council approved Resolution 7490 (preliminary plat approval) by roll call, recorded as a 5–0 vote. Agenda materials and the revised landscape/tree‑preservation exhibit were supplied to the council prior to the vote.

Next steps: Final plat approval, HOA covenant recording and building‑permit processes remain for the developer and will be handled by the community development department.