03-11-1991 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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ORONO COUNCIL MEETING HELD MARCH 11, 1991 ( #7)ZONING FILE #1609 -BROCK CONTINUED hardcover." Brock stated that she has no intention of extending the width of the catwalk beyond the eaves. She said, "The catwalk will be completely under the eaves. No water would be diverted in any way more than it is now." Goetten said, "The catwalk may or may not be considered hardcover, but certainly would be structure." Ms. Brock stated that she did not understand the issue of structure, but added that she had installed gutter to the side of the house where she is proposing to locate the catwalk. She noted that her neighbors preferred to see a catwalk rather than stairs. Mayor Peterson said, "If I understand this correctly, Alice is asking for a second exit from the second story of her house." Mabusth said, "That is correct. The problem is that the sliding glass door, also located on the second story of the home, freezes during the winter. The only egress from the second floor bedroom is via the interior stairs on the first level. The house was constructed prior to the Building Code requiring a minimum size for bedroom windows for the purpose of providing egress." Mayor Peterson stated that Ms. Brock has a normal split entry home. She asked if the City would-be setting a precedent for everyone in Orono owning split entry and two story homes to have stairs coming from their second level. Ms. Brock said, "My windows do not meet the required size. Even i:_ I could fit through the window, it would be an eight -foot drop to the ground. It may be possible for me to drop eight feet, but I would not ask my mom or anybody else her age to do that. I don't mean to go on about the windows, but the Planning Commission made that suggestion, and I have to make a point." Mabusth said, "It is doubtful that the City would consider four foot eaves at an elevation of 16 feet, as hardcover. Staff has not been including eaves as hardcover. There was a time when eaves at more than a 1h' width were considered hardcover." Callahan asked Ms. Brock whether it would be possible to force open the sliding glass doors in the case of a fire. Brock stated that due to the size and weight of the doors, she could not force them open. Goetten stated that there should be a safe exit from the - 11 -