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MINUTES OF THE <br /> ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION <br /> Monday, September 16,2019 <br /> 6:30 p.m. <br /> Quinlivan stated there is a reason why there are not neighbors opposing this, and that is because the <br /> project fits within the neighborhood. <br /> As it relates to hardcover,they are proposing to capture nearly 100 percent of the runoff through cisterns <br /> that would capture as much water as possible. The driveway and other exterior hardcover will use <br /> pervious pavers and the gutters will direct water to the buried cisterns. The homeowners are very <br /> involved with the newly proposed Lake Improvement District on Crystal Bay and have taken every effort <br /> to eliminate runoff from their proposed plan. <br /> The variance process was put in place when unusual circumstances make it difficult for a property owner <br /> to comply with local ordinances. In his opinion, he cannot think of a variance situation better than what <br /> they are seeing today. <br /> Overall the project would improve the lakeshore setback, improve the side yard setback to 31 and 32 feet, <br /> and improve the rear yard setback. The property next door has a 1.7-foot setback that was approved in <br /> 2017. In their opinion they felt that five feet was good and improves what is there today. Most of the <br /> properties in the neighborhood are at 50 to 60 percent structural coverage because they fall within the <br /> 10,000 square foot exemption. This lot does not fall under the 10,000 foot and it also has the largest road <br /> surface on Crystal Bay,which causes a hardship. <br /> Within approximately 1,069 feet west of the proposed home,there are 19 homes,or one for every 56 feet. <br /> Within approximately 625 feet to the east,there are eight homes,which is approximately one home every <br /> 75 feet. This home has 150 feet and goes above and beyond what fits in the neighborhood. The project <br /> has wide support in the neighborhood, makes sense for this property, and fits into the neighborhood. If <br /> the side yard setbacks are increased to 50 feet,that does not make sense and would look out of place with <br /> the rest of the neighborhood. <br /> Chair Ressler opened the public hearing at 7:53 p.m. <br /> There were no public comments on this application. <br /> Chair Ressler closed the public hearing at 7:53 p.m. <br /> Ressler commented this is a tough lot, and whenever you have a really odd shaped lot, which is fairly <br /> common on the lake,you have to identify whether you are improving or intensifying a difficulty. While <br /> he can recognize the merits of the proposed side yard setback,the way the City's regulations are,it is a <br /> percentage, and the proposed structural coverage is not a little bit of a leap but it is a tripling of the <br /> structure. The lot is very shallow, and one could argue it is not a buildable lot. Every single lot in the <br /> neighborhood requires variances. <br /> The Planning Commission always tries to do the best they can with what is in front of them and they <br /> attempt to make something work. The Planning Commission, however,has a difficult time when a <br /> proposal makes something worse. <br /> Thiesse stated he came into this thinking that it was not consistent with the character of the neighborhood <br /> and the developer just re-enforced that. This lot is the widest lot in the neighborhood. Three lots <br /> combined is not in character with the neighborhood and side yard setbacks of 30 to 50 feet is not in <br /> character with the neighborhood. As it relates to practical difficulty, state law is very specific that you <br /> Page 13 of 24 <br />