09-16-2019 Planning Commission Packet

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(Gordon iames IGN 51111 F) RFNOVATF Project Narrative 3315 Crystal Bay Road Orono, MN 55391 Crystal Bay Road is a unique road located on Crystal Bay in Orono. There are currently 28 properties on Crystal Bay Road with 24 considered"lakeshore". All 28 properties have a unique challenge by having the Dakota Trail in their back yard and Crystal Bay Road on the lakeside. Of the 24 properties with lakeshore, 3315 Crystal Bay Road is the widest property at 15o feet. Approximately ii lots are 5o feet or less width,4 have 6o feet or less in width,5 have 90 feet or less in width,3 lots are over loo,and one 1 is 15o feet or more. Of those 24 lots,3315 Crystal Bay Road is shallower than all but one,their neighbor. This presents a unique challenge for the homeowners. All 28 properties along Crystal Bay Road border the Dakota Trail which is owned by the Hennepin County Railroad Authority and managed by the Three Rivers Park District. Although there is approximately 5o feet from the center of the Dakota Park Trail to the properties on Crystal Bay Road,the Three Rivers Park District only manages 3 feet from the edge of the trail. That has left the remaining 41 feet to be managed by the homeowners. There are currently lawns,fences,patios,driveways,sheds etc...currently located in the 41 feet. If not for the homeowners managing the HCRRA properties,it simply would be unkept. There are also 7 homes today that count on the HCRRA land as the primary access to their homes. The Homeowners have been working with Swan Architecture,TVL Studio,and Gordon James to design a home and landscape plan to be compatible with the homes on Crystal Bay Road. The plan is to make this home their last home,and they want to be good neighbors and fit in with the neighborhood. As proposed, the new home will improve setbacks in three areas;The lakeside setback will increase,the rear yard setback will increase,and there will be approximately 3o and 32 foot side yard setbacks. Those will be the largest side yard setbacks of any home in the neighborhood by a wide margin. The team believes a smaller footprint would only increase the setbacks and look out of place with the neighborhood. The current garage is approximately 15 feet off the property line and 38 feet from the lake,and the current home is within the HCRRA easement. The proposed plan would change that. To reduce runoff,we are also proposing a water retention plan that will capture nearly 100%of the water on site through cisterns and use it for lawn irrigation. The driveway and other exterior hardcover will use pervious pavers and the gutters will direct water to the buried cisterns. Grass along with fescue will be used in other areas of the property. The Homeowners are very involved with the newly proposed Lake Improvement District and are very concerned with runoff and have taken every effort to eliminate that from their proposed plan. In closing,the variance process was put in place when"unusual circumstances make it difficult for a property owner to comply with local ordinances". Crystal Bay Road,The Dakota Trail,lot sizes,and lake setbacks have made this and several other properties along Crystal Bay Road in need of the variance process. In our opinion our proposed plan makes sense and passes"the smell test"for what fits the neighborhood. We also have seen wide support for this plan from the neighbors because they see this as reasonable and adding value to the neighborhood.