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MINUTES OF THE <br /> ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION <br /> Tuesday,March 15,2021 <br /> 6:00 o'clock p.m. <br /> Jacob Brown& Stacy Kromenhoek,Applicants,were present. <br /> Staff presented a summary packet of information. The Applicant is requesting a lot area, lot width, front <br /> yard setback, and side yard setback variances to allow for a new home on 4085 Watertown Road. The <br /> Planning Staff is recommending approval on these requested variances. Currently the property has a non- <br /> conforming single-family home which is outlined on the survey on screen. The property is non-conforming. <br /> With respect to area,it is.64 acres and measured at the road is about 93 feet wide. This is the RR1A zoning <br /> district which is a five-acre zoning district, and 300 feet in width. The Applicant noted overall height is <br /> roughly 35 feet from final grade to peak height, following the City code calculations for defined height, <br /> Staff has actually calculated the proposed height of the home to be 28.3 feet so it is meeting the height <br /> requirements of City code. Oakden said the Applicant has identified practical difficulties,the overlapping <br /> side yard setbacks,as seen on the survey there is a 50-foot side yard setback and she showed from the north <br /> side and the south side completely overlapping, eliminating that building envelope. Oakden noted the <br /> substandard lot area, lot width, and there is also quite a bit of slope in getting to the narrow part of the <br /> property. Staff agrees with the Applicant's findings of the reasons for practical difficulties. The Applicant <br /> is proposing to move the house further away from the front yard setback than the existing home footprint <br /> and working to bring that home closer into conformity. The existing home sits about 21 feet from the road <br /> and the Applicant is proposing a farther setback of 35.4 feet from the road. The required front yard is a <br /> 100-foot setback. The Applicant worked to find a narrow house design of 28 feet in width to try and <br /> accommodate some spacing and side yard setbacks, closely maintaining that existing house footprint. The <br /> proposed home was designed to create as large setbacks as possible and the Applicant is requesting 19 feet <br /> to the property line because of the proposed deck stairs, and 23 feet to the west property line and that is <br /> measured from the closest point(noted on screen)due to the strange configuration of the lot with the small <br /> jut-in on the property line. Lot area and lot width variances are because the lot is substandard in the new <br /> house construction. Staff found supportive findings for the proposed variance included in the memo. The <br /> Applicant submitted letters of support from the two abutting neighbors. Staff recommends approval of the <br /> requested lot area, lot width, front,and side yard setback variances. <br /> Ressler noted the zoning is what is making this a bit of a rat's nest as there is 19 for one side setback and <br /> 23 on the other;they are going to 35 as proposed to 21 right now for front yard setback. <br /> Oakden stated that is correct. 21 was the existing house and 35 is the proposed house, so they are bringing <br /> the house slightly farther back away from the road. <br /> Ressler said improving the position. <br /> Oakden replied that is correct. <br /> Stacy Kromenhoek and Jacob Brown, 1025 West Cove Lane. Mr.Kromenhoek thanked the Commissioners <br /> for voting for the bees- as future neighbors in that area they are thrilled to hear that. She also thanked the <br /> City Planners who were immensely helpful as this is a very difficult process and they really held the <br /> Applicant's hands. As the Commissioners see they have a very unique lot, she is difficult but quite pretty <br /> and they are trying to make a best attempt at meeting all the setbacks or at least improving their compliance <br /> to the setbacks. They chose a very narrow house design that would probably fit within the room they are <br /> standing in now and pulled it as far back off the road as possible. They also tried to reorient the house—it <br /> was sitting at a funny angle on the lot—so they could get equal setbacks on both sides. They have met with <br /> the neighbors and spent a considerable amount of time talking with them and let them know they were <br /> trying to make it equal on both sides. She noted it is about 22 feet on the other side except for those stairs <br /> Page 16 of 34 <br />