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MINUTES OF THE <br />ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING <br />Monday, November 20, 2017 <br />6:30 o'clock p.m. <br />Curtis noted the building code allows buildings to be this close and that the City's zoning code requires <br />ten feet, which is an open space requirement. Curtis indicated the building can be three feet away if the <br />proper materials are used. <br />Thiesse stated it is a massing issue and not a fire safety variance and that the applicant is well under <br />hardcover and structural coverage limits. Thiesse pointed out it is located on a 3.2 acre property. <br />Lemke stated the massing does not bother him as much as the fact that it is an after -the -fact variance, and <br />that in his view if it had been connected, the Planning Commission would have allowed it from a massing <br />standpoint. As a result, Lemke indicated he is okay with it. <br />Schoenzeit commented it is a very big foundation for a patio. <br />Thiesse stated he has difficulty requiring an additional building to make it compliant. <br />Lemke commented that would not really solve anything either. <br />Schoenzeit stated the applicant should be required to comply with the fire code, and if the applicant does <br />not want to connect it, that is his prerogative. <br />Landgraver stated the massing issue is important in Orono and that he views a component of massing <br />being open areas between structures. Landgraver stated it does stretch the imagination that that used to be <br />a patio and that was what it is proposed as but that it is now a 25 -foot tall structure. Landgraver stated in <br />his view there was an egregious error done in disclosure of the plans that could have been avoided by <br />discussing the project thoroughly with Staff. <br />Lemke asked if the foundation is sufficient to support the structure. <br />Curtis stated she believes so. <br />