09-21-2020 Planning Commission Minutes

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION Monday,September 21,2020 6:00 o'clock p.m. 3. LA20-000056 KUHL DESIGN BUILD,3249 CASCO CIRCLE,VARIANCE. STAFF: LAURA OAKDEN John and Elizabeth Ellenberger,Applicants,were present. Staff presented a summary of packet information. Staff finds the applicant does not meet Practical Difficulty standards and recommends a denial. Ms. Oakden noted the neighbor to the South submitted a letter of support and the neighbor to the North submitted comments regarding the application with concerns regarding drainage and gutters be placed on the building, as well. Ms. Oakden noted onscreen she has highlighted the red area where she measured out the 7.5 foot setback and they can see the existing building currently sits about 2 feet from the building. She noted the blue-shaded area of the new roofline/loft is considered the new encroachment within the setback and is what is triggering the variance; the rest of it(outside the blue area) is outside the setback. Chair Ressler said in the spirit of like-kind,the existing structure as applied is to be replaced from where it is today. Ms. Oakden believes they're even proposing to maintain some walls, she thinks they're talking about changing out some windows and doorway, maintaining some walls and foundation, and creating a new upper space. She said they can replace it in the exact same manner if they choose to rebuild it, but the expansion of the roof is what is triggering the need for the variance. Chair Ressler noted they're really talking about just going up. Ms. Oakden answered that is correct. Dan Murphy, Kuhl Design Build, 1515 5th Street South,Hopkins, said what they're trying to do is maintain the slab, sightline and everything that is there. He noted it is essentially a rear garage,not hindering views of the lake, and if one knows the neighborhood,they come around the corner and see an old building sitting there. He said they're trying to leave the building's footprint,North wall, most of the walls will be left, but they're trying to maximize the architecture of the new house with the pitch of the roof. He said as they can see with the elevations,most of that is allowed,they aren't trying to make a bigger footprint or change the location of anything. He said they're more than willing to do the drainage, gutters, and everything; they're really trying to make it something a bit more attractive in the neighborhood as people come around the corner, and make it match the architecture of the house. He noted they could do a flat corner on the roof and still do the rest of it,which wouldn't look very nice. He clarified they are not trying to over-mass anything for the neighborhood and it's not a very big area that they're trying to get the variance on. Chair Ressler opened the public hearing at 6:46 p.m. Chair Ressler closed the public hearing at 6:46 p.m. Kirchner noted one neighbor submitted a letter raising concerns over the drainage and asked if they were generally in support but concerned about drainage. Page 7 of 27