03-11-2019 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING Tuesday, February 19, 2019 6:30 o’clock p.m. _____________________________________________________________________________________ 4. LA19-000005 STEVE SCHOTTLER, 2740 SHADYWOOD ROAD, AFTER-THE-FACT VARIANCE, 6:54 P.M. – 7:05 P.M. Steve Schottler, Applicant, was present. Curtis stated in 2016 the applicants built a screen porch addition to the home which exists on the property today without proper permits. Following a stop work notice for the unpermitted construction in 2017, the applicants applied for and received an after-the-fact approval of lake setback, average lakeshore setback, and 75-foot hardcover variances allowing the porch to remain. There were delays and the variances expired. The applicants have re-evaluated and revised their project and have reduced the size of the proposed screen porch, thus eliminating two of the variances. An average lakeshore setback is still necessary. The applicants are currently proposing a 26’ x 26’ screen porch on the lakeside of the home 76 feet from the OHWL, as much as 14 feet lakeward of the average lakeshore setback. This request has neighbor support. Due to the position of this home and neighboring homes in relation to both Shadywood Road and the lake, Staff finds there are practical difficulties supporting the average lakeshore setback variance for the reduced 26’ x 26’ screen porch. Staff recommends approval. Landgraver asked if Staff could display a picture of the neighboring home. Landgraver asked if the porch would alter the average lakeshore setback for the neighbors. Curtis indicated it would pull it out towards the lake and that the lots are tucked in there due to the cove. Landgraver commented any time there is an encroachment into the average lakeshore, it creates a creeping forward of the adjacent properties and that he is just trying to get a sense of how that would be impacted. Thiesse stated that is the reason for the 75-foot setback. Steve Schottler, Applicant, stated the ultimate goal was to modify the project. Last year they went through the process with the City and then hired a structural engineer. After getting approval on those plans, a number of contractors said that what the structural engineer wanted them to do was virtually impossible and that it would cost two to three times more than if the structure was just taken down. The thought was then to rebuild it. In doing that, it affected the previous variance and Staff recommended that a new application be filed, which is why he is back here now. The porch has been shortened six feet so it is even further from the lake, which eliminated the variance to the 75-foot setback. This is a unique situation in that the cove is on one side and the lake is on the other side. One neighbor is 65 feet from the lake and the other is 95 feet, which is where this property gets caught. Schottler stated they would like to rebuild it the right way but just a little bit smaller. Chair Thiesse opened the public hearing at 7:01 p.m.