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MINUTES OF THE <br /> ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION <br /> Monday,November 16,2020 <br /> 6:00 o'clock p.m. <br /> Staff presented a summary of packet information. Planning Staff recommends approval of this <br /> Application and finds the existing lot area and width as practical difficulties to support the variance. Staff <br /> finds there are inherent practical difficulties with that substandard lot for the new home. The Applicant <br /> submitted an acknowledgement signature from the neighbor as Exhibit F. Staff recommends approval of <br /> the lot area, lot width, and side-yard setback variances. <br /> Gettman asked when this was actually subdivided, and whether this is the same owner that was part of the <br /> subdivision that created this situation where they cannot build on it and therefore have a variance. <br /> Ms. Oakden replied no, she believes there is a new owner to the property and this lot has been in <br /> existence for quite a while as a vacant lot. She does not have the date of when the lot was created. <br /> George Stickney, 340 Peavey Road, said to back up a bit,he and his son Jacob are representing the Dunn <br /> family. This property has been in the family for 50-60 years or so. <br /> Chair Ressler told Mr. Stickney they would close up a few questions with Staff and then they could hear <br /> from him. <br /> Ms. Oakden noted it sounds like she was speaking inaccurately that the Dunn family is current owner and <br /> she will let Mr. Stickney finish speaking to that. <br /> Libby asked if this is outside the MUSA and does not have City sewer available to it. <br /> Ms. Oakden said that is correct. <br /> Kirchner noted in the presentation,Ms. Oakden had mentioned that the setbacks proposed here are similar <br /> to neighboring properties. He asked roughly how far off the lot line those are. <br /> Ms. Oakden said the neighbor to the north has about a 16 foot side-yard setback and about a 45 foot front <br /> yard setback. This Applicant is proposing a 50 foot front yard setback so they meet that exception, and <br /> are proposing a 15.5 foot setback to the north, and an 18 foot setback to the south. <br /> Kirchner asked if there are any homes to the south of this one. <br /> Ms. Oakden replied they do abut a property and showed a map onscreen. She noted there is one home to <br /> the north but no other homes in the area. This property has a flag that abuts the vacant lot they are talking <br /> about and then pointed out Bederwood Park. <br /> McCutcheon noted this is not unusual; there are many lots on this road that are skinny like this. <br /> Ms. Oakden replied lots that are very narrow, that is correct. <br /> McCutcheon said they subdivided them wrong a long time ago. <br /> Mr. George Stickney, 340 Peavey Road,Wayzata, is representing the Dunn family trust. When the <br /> family first met with Mr. Stickney and his son and said they really want to sell this lot,their mother has <br /> owned it forever and they have never built on it. The family has grown up in Orono, at least 60 years it <br /> has been like this, a nice lot, and a vacant lot. To sell the lot, he told the family he is really not going to <br /> Page 12 of 23 <br />