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MINUTES OF THE <br /> ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION <br /> Monday, September 16,2019 <br /> 6:30 p.m. <br /> have to use it in a reasonable manner,which they are, and none of the practical difficulties were created <br /> by the owner, but the project has to not alter the essential character of the locality. Thiesse stated in his <br /> view he does not believe the practical difficulty is being met. <br /> Gettman stated he believes it does meet the characteristics of the neighborhood but that he struggles with <br /> overcoming the practical difficulty. Gettman stated he does not know what is driving that additional 50 <br /> percent of covered area except by looking at the rest of the neighborhood and seeing that is what <br /> everybody else has done. Gettman commented he is inclined to figure out how to get to yes but that he is <br /> not seeing it right now. <br /> Bollis noted what is improving are the front yard setback and side yard setbacks. It is also true most of <br /> those lots have 50 percent hardcover,but they are smaller lots. Bollis indicated he struggles with that <br /> because there are three lots there, and while some aspects are getting better,there is room for <br /> improvement. <br /> Andrea Swan,Architect, stated the house is 50 percent more than the current house because the existing <br /> house is a cabin. <br /> Dale Olson,property owner, stated the short story is that they purchased the property in 2012. The house <br /> was built in 1920 and was uninhabitable. The property was bought with the initial intention of flipping it. <br /> which has been his thinking for the last six and a half years,but that over the years he has gotten to know <br /> the neighbors and was put in charge of the LID to eradicate the milfoil. <br /> Every single person on that street says that they do not want that lot to be split into three lots. Since the <br /> time of purchase,he has decided to stay because he likes the lake and the neighbors. Olson stated he does <br /> not want to sell it to somebody who has the intention of putting three homes there and that they want to <br /> do what they think is good for the property. Olson indicated they are open to suggestions on what to do <br /> and that they want to better the environment and the neighborhood in general. <br /> Andrea Swan stated it is a small house with a small garage. The existing garage is almost on the street. <br /> The proposed garage is a detached garage. Someone sought a variance tonight for a screen porch and <br /> someone on the Planning Commission commented that it is an asset. The property owner would like to <br /> have a screened-in porch and it seems reasonable for a new home. <br /> The biggest issue is that the property owners would like to grow old in this house. Ideally they would like <br /> to have the master bedroom on the main level as well as the garage that they can access from the main <br /> level. The garage requires a longer driveway and Orono requires the entire driveway to be part of the <br /> hardcover calculation. The footprint of the house is scalable to the neighboring lots. A lot of the homes <br /> on the street are front facing, which allows the driveway to be shorter,but the proposed footprint of the <br /> home is actually not large. <br /> Swan commented she is perplexed that it was denied in this case because it feels like the right thing for <br /> this lot. <br /> Ressler noted the Planning Commission has not denied it yet and that it is open for discussion. <br /> Erickson asked how many tax statements are involved. <br /> Page 14 of 24 <br />