10-12-2020 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION Monday, September 21, 2020 6:00 o’clock p.m. _____________________________________________________________________________________ especially close to lakeshore when people have a carriage area or dock that is turned into a home. He asked Mr. Ellenberger to help the Commission understand the Practical Difficulty and what is preventing him – noting again he’s done a masterful job in trying to keep the same footprint. Mr. Ellenberger thinks the answer to that question is, in the 2.5 years they’ve owned the property; they’ve looked at the structure and how to use it for office, exercise and some storage. He noted the cubic space was more helpful to them overall, as the driveway is 8 feet wide, and to move the structure anywhere else on the lot would put it in front of the main house, as there is no other place to effectively put the structure. He felt the efficiency of keeping what they could wasn’t the key driver, they felt going up is a workable solution. Libby commented regarding the redesign of the roof and pitch, noting he has been involved in many types of roof design with that pitch and he knows the outcome or consequence is with a pitch of that severity. He said in most remedies of the fast and rapid leaving of the rain/heavy water because of the fast velocity that comes with heavier pitch, most of the time they’ve had to remediate those with very large (5-7 inch width) extruded gutters, heavy downspouts and drain tile to take the water away. Libby can’t see the Practical Difficulty to start with and thinks they don’t fully understand that they’re compounding a problem by asking the Commission to allow the owner to move it closer to the lot line, which compresses the amount of area for drainage and putting a 12/12 pitch which will exacerbate that drainage problem. He thinks they homeowner is far better off to move the building back because the cost incurred in trying to remediate the drainage problems – which neighbors have already expressed concern about – and Libby can say from a factual standpoint, that it will compound the problem by having a 12 pitch roof. Ms. Elizabeth Ellenberger, 3249 Casco Circle, homeowner noted they have addressed that drainage is an issue. She noted that Ivy hits Casco Circle at a higher point and according to City Staff, Casco is supposed to be re-done and that problem will be addressed. She said they’re in talks to do the entire remediation and the current structure doesn’t have gutters on that side, but does have gutters on another side, which are in disrepair. She clarified it is an issue and it is being addressed. Chair Ressler noted that is good feedback and if it goes before the City Council, working directly with those neighbors and stating exactly what they’re looking to do may change what is determined, approved or denied. He said getting neighbors comfortable knowing they’re improving a situation might get others more comfortable with approval. Kirchner moved, Libby seconded, to deny LA20-000056, 3249 Casco Circle Variance as submitted. VOTE: Ayes 3, Nays 2 (Gettman and Ressler).