09-14-2020 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION Monday, August 17, 2020 6:00 o’clock p.m. _____________________________________________________________________________________ Page 5 of 29 Ressler said he built on a similar sized lot on Crystal Bay six years ago and that’s how he ended up here as there so many rules to try to comply to and fitting so many things into such small places but it’s such expensive land that you need to try to maximize what you’re able. On a personal and professional level, he said Orono has gotten a lot more lax on height, which gives more square-footage-ability to build upward. Being that the family is not originally from the area, he noted he can personally appreciate the ability to go up much easier than perhaps has been in the past. One of the things the Commission has heard from the City Council and Staff is that structures are a really difficult one to overcome. He agrees with Staff on this application, he is okay with everything else, but the structure is where he struggles. Kirchner moved to approve of the lot area and setback but denial of the structural coverage variance of LA20-000049 Sharratt Design, 3435 Crystal Bay Road. Ressler noted a motion of partial approval and partial denial and deferred to Staff as it may be cleaner to deny the application because they have what is submitted with feedback. Curtis answered that because the Commission has generally expressed support for the Staff recommendation, which was if the Applicant resolves the structural coverage issue, the other variances are supportable. She thinks it is cleaner to deny the proposal as presented with the feedback that the Commission is giving the Applicant on the rest of the application. Ressler asked if the Applicant could go to the City Council with an amended plan and the Council would have the Commission’s feedback on the items that would theoretically be supported without having to come back to the Commission. Curtis said yes and that would be what she would reflect in her report to the Council. Kirchner said with that understanding he would like to amend his motion. Kirchner moved, Gettman seconded to amend the motion to LA20-000049 Sharratt Design, 3435 Crystal Bay Road for denial of the entire application with the feedback provided to the City Council going forward. Vote: Ayes 7, Nays 0. Ressler asked for further clarification of the feedback on whether the Commissioners are supportive of the rest of the items in the application or not, as that would be good for the Council to have in case this does go further. McCutcheon stated they started with that and said with all of the variances and allowances discussed, the setback and driveway, they have to hit the threshold somewhere. He said the feedback would be that all of the variances and setbacks are fine, it’s just that the mass of the structure itself is the one thing that would have to be adjusted with the next application. Ressler noted that McCutcheon recommended approval of everything on the application except structure, just to clean everything up. Libby agreed with Kirchner’s delineation with one comment, noting the builder commented about the fact that the massing of any elevation changes and height could be more of a deterrent than an asset. He said they are already at the midpoint so as much as he’d like to see additional space in stick-up-structure