06-12-2017 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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CITY OF ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING Monday, May 15,2017 6:30 o'clock p.m. Amy Nelson, 1185 Arbor Street, stated she would like to note the intent of this is to free Staff from needing to do the paperwork to grant variances. Nelson stated having lived in the area for 30 -plus years, she knows that most of the lots in her neighborhood are nonconforming. If those property owners were to build out to the side setback, they would still require a front or a rear variance. Nelson noted her house sits on over three acres and is only 35 feet from the street, which is similar to the other homes in the area. Nelson stated she does not feel this will help free up Staff time since the applicants would still require other variances and that in her view the map is somewhat misleading. Nelson noted she sent the City a map where she would suggest rezoning be applied, which would be in the sewered areas, and that in her view she does not feel it is suited for the outer part of the RR -113 district. Nelson stated she would ask the Planning Commission to consider not going with Staff s recommendation and that things would be better addressed with rezoning. Nelson stated if her neighborhood is rezoned to one acre, the neighborhood would increase by two parcels, which would be the two parcels that come out of her 3 -acre parcel. hi addition, the front setbacks would then be 35 feet and the sides would be 10 feet, which is the same thing that is being achieved with this. Rezoning to one acre might also alleviate the possibility that all these people may need a variance to the front yard setback or the rear yard setback since it would be reduced from 50 to 35 feet. Richie Anderson, 3205 Crystal Bay Road, stated they are currently looking at constructing a house next to the marina on a 57 -foot wide lot and that in his view, under the new ordinance, with the 20 percent structural coverage and five percent more for hardcover, they are going to be able to build a really nice house with the 10 -foot setbacks. Anderson stated he would not want to be the person who lives on a small lot with an adjoining small lot where they can build closer to the lot line. Chair Thiesse closed the public hearing at 6:53 p.m. Thiesse commented he cannot remember the last time the City had a variance request for just a side yard setback and that he does not see any reason to streamline it. Schwingler asked whether this would be considered spot zoning. Page 4 of 6