12-11-2017 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING Monday, November 20, 2017 6:30 o'clock p.m. for a variance for the base of the garage and that the concrete and the floor was approved as part of the building permit. Curtis noted it was approved as a patio. Wischmeier stated the patio as constructed is 3.3 feet too close to the cabin. Thiesse stated the patio could have been up next to the house but it is the building that cannot be that close. Wischmeier stated the patio was being built for the express purpose of putting a garage on it but the garage was not part of the building permit. Wischmeier stated he thought this was all part of the original package and that he makes no excuses for it. The intent was that it was supposed to be conforming in order to erect the garage onto the base and that his contractor clearly understood that was to be done. Wischmeier pointed out the 6.7 foot setback. Wischmeier explained the drop in elevation is approximately 12 feet, and that when they bought the lot, they thought it had a nice elevated area. Unfortunately that area has very poor soils and a bunch of fill was brought in to raise it up. Wischmeier stated the practical difficulties relate to the foundation and the extreme drop-off. Wischmeier indicated they are attempting to make the structure compact to hide it the best they can from the lake and to get it where there is good soil to pour the foundation. Wischmeier stated the practical difficulty is the grade, and that getting to buildable soil for the garage foundation was challenging, which is why the contractor moved towards the cabin. The challenge with extending it four feet means that they will have to dig down a good way to get to flat soil, which results in the whole foundation having to be shifted down three to four feet. Wischmeier stated the problem with the backside of the garage is the way it is cut into the hill. Wischmeier noted the structure is not viewable from the lake or from the neighbors' properties and that the issue with all of this was getting it to fit proportionally with the house. Wischmeier indicated they tried to get it visually correct with the house but that there is no practical way to build a structure like this that is correct and looks right from the front.