02-10-2020 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday,February 10,2020 6:00 o'clock p.m. Johnson said they had to raise the structure to get it out of the floodplain,but they are keeping it lower than the existing structure so there's less volume on the inside of it than there was because they had to bring it up 2.4 feet. The peak illustrated is the same peak when it was two feet lower.He asked what the height is from the finished grade to the bottom of the peaks. Curtis referenced a drawing and stated there was a seven-foot door. Johnson stated if that was a seven-foot door,the peak is six-some feet if they put the other roof back on. Crosby said he thinks it is reasonable and the property owner has a practical difficulty because of having to raise it for the floodplain. Walsh noted they do not have to rebuild and so the homeowners are creating their own practical difficulty. Council members and Staff discussed the existence of another structure on the property the owner is considering to rebuild,a cabin-type structure,which is past the 0-75 lake setback. Walsh said it is an existing structure and he is not worried about the variances from the setback. Walsh said the owner is creating their own practical difficulty by raising the structure.He is worried about setting a precedent. Johnson stated although he agreed with Walsh,the City also wants people to improve their structures. Printup asked Staff for more information regarding the flood zone and raising the structure. Curtis said flood regulations require full conformance with the low floor elevation if someone rebuilds a structure. You can make maintenance improvements to a structure that exists in the floodplain;but for significant repairs, it triggers conformance,which in this case means raising the low floor. Mattick noted the property owner gets to rebuild it but the City is not going to allow them to rebuild in a place that is known to flood or at least geographically does. You can build it in place, in kind,but out of the floodplain.That is why it gets bumped up by two feet. Johnson asked what would happen if the homeowner raised the structure 2.4 feet up. Curtis said if the owner took the existing building and built it to conform, it would be 2.4 feet higher. Johnson asked whether she meant 2.4 feet higher than the dashed line depicted on the drawing. Curtis used an illustration to show where the top of the peak would be if that were the case and said they would also need a variance to do that. Walsh said it's a good conversation to have because there are a lot of non-conforming structures in the lakeshore setback.After this conversation,he is in support of the request. Johnson moved,Crosby seconded,to approve LA19-000105 John Kraemer,855 Old Crystal Bay Road South,Variance,Resolution No.7072 VOTE: Ayes 5,Nays 0. Page 3 of 15