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MINUTES OF THE <br />ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION <br />MONDAY, MARCH 19, 2018 <br />6:30 o'clock p.m. <br />Chair Thiesse closed the public hearing at 7:17 p.m. <br />Leskinen commented it is a reasonable request and that the homeowner has made a strong case for the <br />practical difficulty that exists with the lot. Leskinen stated she also appreciates that the other <br />encroachment issues will be resolved and the setbacks will be met. <br />Lemke commented it is an attractive improvement to the property. <br />Landgraver stated part of him would like to try to reduce the hardcover further but that the larger <br />turnaround is needed for safe access down to the street. <br />Thiesse stated he also had the same thought but that the applicant is dropping the overall hardcover by <br />around 300 feet even with the larger turnaround. Thiesse stated the practical difficulty is the need for safe <br />access onto the street, which the turnaround accomplishes. <br />Landgraver moved, Schoenzeit seconded, to recommend approval of Application No. LAI 8-000015, <br />Michael Jones, 3186 North Shore Drive, granting of a hardcover variance. VOTE: Ayes 6, Nays 0. <br />5. LA18-000016 DALE GUSTAFSON, 1370 CHERRY PLACE, VARIANCES, 7:18 P.M. — <br />7:35 P.M. <br />Dale Gustafson, Applicant, was present. <br />Oakden stated the applicant has submitted an application to add retaining walls and landscaping to the <br />shoreline of the property located at 1370 Cherry Place. The property abuts Lake Minnetonka and has a <br />slope along the shoreline. There are currently stairs leading down the slope creating access to the lake. <br />These stairs would be removed as part of the project and new stairs would be constructed. There is also <br />an existing boathouse the applicant is proposing to retain. <br />Retaining walls are not permitted within 75 feet of the lake. As a result, the applicant is requesting a <br />setback and hardcover variance. The applicant proposes to build new stairs to the lake around the <br />boathouse and add retaining walls to support the slope. The plan includes multiple retaining walls <br />running along the stairs and running along the slope. <br />Oakden illustrated the location of the existing stairs and the proposed retaining walls. The applicant is <br />proposing 17.9 percent hardcover in the lake yard. <br />To date one comment against building in the lake yard in general has been received. <br />Page 10 of 23 <br />