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MINUTES OF THE <br /> ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING <br /> Monday,July18,2016 <br /> 6:30 o'clock p.m. <br /> preliminary plat approval,subject to a detailed landscape plan being submitted to the City prior to <br /> the City Council meeting and with the recommendation that the City Council take public comments <br /> from any interested residents in attendance at the meeting. VOTE: Ayes 6,Nays 0. <br /> 6. #16-3849 ABLE ENERGY COMPANY ON BEHALF OF TOM ROBB, 570 BIG ISLAND, <br /> VARIANCE,8:04 P.M.—8:11 P.M. <br /> Tom Robb, Applicant, was present. <br /> Curtis stated the applicant is requesting a side yard setback and average lakeshore setback variance in <br /> order to install solar panels on the roof of the existing cabin on the property. The existing 1950s cabin on <br /> the property is situated as close as 1.2 feet from the west side lot line, which is the undeveloped right-of- <br /> way to the lake and 64 feet lakeward of the average lakeshore setback based on the cabin at 560 Big <br /> Island. <br /> The applicant is proposing to install flush-mounted solar panels on the roof of the existing cabin. City <br /> Code allows roof-mounted solar panels on the roof of a structure meeting all the required setbacks. The <br /> required setback from a right-of-way on Big Island is 30 feet; therefore,variances are required in addition <br /> to the average lakeshore setback variance. <br /> Staff finds that due to the code requirement for solar panels and the existing cabin in a nonconforming <br /> location, there is not a conforming way for the applicant to install solar panels on the property. Solar <br /> panels will not be visually intrusive to the neighboring properties or when viewed from the lake. No <br /> public comments have been received to date. <br /> Staff recommends approval of the request. <br /> Schoenzeit noted it is not expanding the roof area but is putting something on a house in a nonconforming <br /> spot. <br /> Curtis indicated that is correct. <br /> Schoenzeit stated it is an allowed use on a house and it would not be extending over the roof area. <br /> Tom Robb, Applicant, stated he is the property owner of 570 Big Island. Robb stated he would like to <br /> install the solar panels on the roof of the cabin. Robb stated the reason the cabin is located where it is is <br /> because they only owned the one lot at the time it was rebuilt and they acquired the other two lots later <br /> on. Robb stated there was a pre-existing cabin in that location that was replaced. <br /> Robb stated the solar panels will occupy approximately half of the roof area. <br /> Acting Chair Lemke opened the public hearing at 8:10 p.m. <br /> There were no public comments related to this application. <br /> Acting Chair Lemke closed the public hearing at 8:10 p.m. <br /> McGrann moved,Leskinen seconded,to recommend approval of Application No. 16-3849,Able <br /> Energy Company on behalf of Tom Robb,570 Big Island, granting of a side yard setback and <br /> Page 16 of 19 <br />