06-24-2019 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, June 10, 2019 7:00 o'clock p.m. ROLL CALL The Orono City Council met on the above-mentioned date with the following members present: Mayor Dennis Walsh, City Council Members Richard Crosby, III, Matt Johnson, Aaron Printup, and Victoria Seals. Representing Staff were City Administrator Dustin Rief, Finance Director Ron Olson, Development Director Jeremy Barnhart, Public Works Director/City Engineer Adam Edwards, City Attorney Soren Mattick, and Recorder Jackie Young. Mayor Walsh called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m., followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. 13. LA19-000027 MIKE JOHNSRUD, 135 LUCE LINE RIDGE, VARIANCE Oakden stated the applicant is requesting a variance to exceed the allowed square footage for an oversize accessory structure from 1,200 to 1,432 square feet. The property is located in a planned residential development within the RR-lA zoning district. The property is permitted to have a total of 2,400 square feet of accessory building. It is permitted to have one oversized accessory structure, but no single structure may exceed 1,200 square feet. The existing detached building was built in 2017. The property owner is requesting to add a 280 square foot addition to the existing 1,152 square foot building, creating a 1,432 square foot building. The Code allows a second accessory structure on the property not to exceed 999 square feet. Staff finds the submitted application does not meet the practical difficulty standards. The request for a variance does not establish any demonstrable difficulty unique to the property. The applicant has indicated they can meet the city Code by building a separate accessory structure. There are not any unique circumstances with the land or the use to support a variance to allow an accessory building larger than the code would permit. Further, the applicant has not demonstrated that the property is unique to support the variance and the use of the property has been achieved via the construction of the home and the 1,152 square foot accessory structure. The applicant has stated they need the addition to allow for trailer storage due to theft and vandalism. The applicant states an addition to the existing building would be better financially, environmentally, and neighborly. The Planning Commission reviewed this application at their May meeting and discussed the proposed variances. The Commissioners discussed the City Code for allowing one oversize accessory building and also allowing up to 2,400 square feet total of accessory building square footage. Concerns were addressed regarding overall massing coverage for the property. The Planning Commission recommended approval of the variance request on a 4-3 vote with the condition that any additional accessory structures on the property be prohibited. The City Attorney has advised that any condition placed on a variance must have a clear connection to the regulation. The applicant has submitted signatures from his neighbors in support of the project as well as his homeowners' association. Staff recommends denial. The City Council should review the submitted application and direct Staff to draft a resolution. If a motion is made to approve the request, the Council should provide Staff with applicable practical difficulties. Page 1 of 4