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MINUTES OF THE <br /> ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING <br /> Monday, September 15,2014 <br /> 6:30 o'clock p.m. <br /> Gaffron stated the same drawings and grading plans have been resubmitted and that it is his belief nothing <br /> has changed. <br /> Todd Haugan,Attorney-at-Law, stated he represents the applicants and has been a resident of Orono for <br /> 27 years. Haugan indicated his first house in Orono was approximately the same size as what is being <br /> proposed tonight on a 50-foot lot and that he raised two children in that house. Haugan stated he is <br /> wondering why a house cannot be built on this property. <br /> Haugan stated the law does not allow any city to take away any reasonable use of a property,which is <br /> what is happening in this situation. Haugan stated he is trying to understand as an Orono resident why <br /> someone cannot take a lot that was platted and had a house and garage on it at one point in time,but then <br /> as years go by and numerous laws and ordinances are passed,that what was once a buildable lot,platted <br /> as a buildable lot, is no longer buildable. <br /> Haugan stated the proposed house is pretty modest. Haugan stated he heard comments about how the <br /> neighboring lots are huge,but they were once platted as small individual 50-foot lots. Haugan noted this <br /> is an 83-foot wide lot, 100 feet deep, and abuts a road. The road serves no one other than the two <br /> neighbors above, with the rest of the road being exclusively for this property. <br /> Haugan stated at the end of the day, his comments might be better made in a different forum,but that <br /> there are two issues. One, as it was mentioned,this is only a variance request for size and not use. <br /> Haugan stated in his view Staff's report is absolutely wrong in determining whether this is a buildable lot. <br /> Haugan indicated the applicants would like a setback from a back and a side that offends no one. <br /> Haugan stated if there are neighbors here that are complaining, the only two that would have any dog in <br /> this fight would be the people who live 20 feet higher than this proposed house and that their view of the <br /> lake is obstructed by the massive trees on the subject property. Haugan stated in his view that is not an <br /> issue. <br /> Haugan stated as it relates to the effect the variance would have on government services,there would be <br /> none since the property is readily accessible by a road. Whether the variance will affect substantial <br /> change in the character of the neighborhood is not true. Haugan stated the biggest disruption to the <br /> Page 39 of 59 <br />