01/21/2014 Planning Commission Minutes

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING Tuesday,January 21,2014 6:30 o'clock p.m. approximately 72 feet from the lake where a 75-foot setback is required. Approximately 14 square feet of additional structure within the 75-foot setback is proposed. The applicant's revised plans also better clarify the existing usable space within the garage. However, Staff continues to find that creating a more nonconforming structure is out of character with the neighborhood. The revised addition adds mass within the eastern side setback area and also within the average lakeshore setback. The applicant has failed to demonstrate that enforcing the provisions of the Zoning Ordinance deprive them of the reasonable use of the property. As a result, Planning Staff continues to recommend denial of the variances. The Planning Commission should review and discuss the applicant's revised request as well as the enclosed comments from the neighbor to the east and make a recommendation to the City Council. If the Planning Commission determines that practical difficulties exist which support granting the variances, those practical difficulties should be clearly stated for the record. Thiesse asked if there is documentation showing the garage at 18 feet currently. Curtis indicated she is not aware if the packet contains that information. Gaffron stated the deepest two stalls are at 18 feet. Lixiao Wang, Applicant, stated he should have taken the Planning Commission's recommendation the first time, but that he has since revised his plans to six feet when he went before the City Council. Wang stated in his view he would be able to fit a Toyota Corolla or similar type car in that size garage but that he cannot push the car any further forward due to an elevator located in the garage. Schoenzeit asked if the current house is over 7,000 square feet. Wang indicated it is. Thiesse asked what room is located behind the garage and whether the elevator is part of the original garage. Wang stated to his recollection the elevator was installed because the previous property owner was old and sick, which takes up a portion of the garage. Thiesse asked what room is behind the portion containing the two-stall garage. Wang stated there is a furnace and air purification system in that area, which means the garage cannot be extended in that area. Wang stated he may not do anything with the garage if their application is not approved. Acting Chair Landgraver opened the public hearing at 7:41 p.m. Francine Delaney, 3150 Farview Lane, stated the applicant knew what the garage was like prior to purchasing the property and that the previous owner was always able to park her cars inside the garage. Delaney noted the existing easement is not being maximized at the present time and that if the variance is granted and more structure is added, in her view additional driveway will be requested due to the difficulty they will have in turning around. Page 2 of 26