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MINUTES OF THE <br /> ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING <br /> Monday,November 18,2013 <br /> 6:30 o'clock p.m. <br /> Brunello indicated that is not a problem and that the second story will be at least 10 feet away from the <br /> side setback. Brunello stated in his view it is very important to maintain the 3.6 foot encroachment. <br /> McGrann asked whether the applicant has thought at all about landscaping the area given the second <br /> story. <br /> Brunello stated due to the second story and pushing it closer to the street,he does not want it to be <br /> looming towards the road. Brunello stated even though the footprint being proposed is very accurate in <br /> his view,he may only construct a story and half. Brunello stated if a second story is constructed,it would <br /> still be outside the 10-foot setback. <br /> Chair Leskinen opened the public hearing at 9:00 p.m. <br /> There were no public comments regarding this application. <br /> Chair Leskinen closed the public hearing at 9:00 p.m. <br /> Schwingler stated he does not recall the Planning Commission ever previously approving just the <br /> footprint. Schwingler asked if one of the potential risks with doing that is that something different will be <br /> constructed. <br /> Curtis stated essentially what the Planning Commission would be doing is creating a building pad within <br /> defined setbacks without variances. Curtis stated she does not believe the City has taken this exact <br /> approach before and that it was the applicant's request to approach it this way. Curtis stated in her view it <br /> may be a reasonable request but that she wants the Planning Commission to iron out any risks that may <br /> present themselves. <br /> Brunello stated he is not actually applying for a building permit and that the objective is to design a <br /> building envelope so a home can be designed within those parameters. The existing house is five feet <br /> away from the wetland and the new house would be located in a slightly better location. <br /> Thiesse noted the driveway will also be removed from that area and moving it up to the front of the <br /> house, which is a good thing. Thiesse noted the buffer is a non-mowed, non-maintained area that will <br /> encompass all the way to the back of the house. <br /> Brunello indicates he understands that and that the area would be left natural. <br /> Leskinen asked if a mostly conforming building envelope is possible on the lot anywhere. <br /> Curtis stated the setback line continues all the way to the 35-foot setback line to the south. There is a <br /> 50-foot setback from the street property line and the 35-foot wetland buffer that cuts through the back. <br /> The actual zoning district setback continues all the way up to the 35-foot setback from the north. In <br /> addition,the applicant is limited by the floodplain and wetland buffer. Curtis indicated she does not <br /> know the feasibility as far as constructing a house in the low area. Curtis noted there are also floodplain <br /> requirements for a lower floor elevation that would need to be met,which could be accomplished through <br /> filling to some extent. Curtis indicated she is unsure how the Watershed District would view that. <br /> Page 26 of 35 <br />