05-10-2021 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday,May 10,2021 6:00 o'clock p.m. 9. LA21-000023—MARK PRUETER,3215 CRYSTAL BAY ROAD,VARIANCES RESOLUTION NO. 7197—Continued Mark Prueter noted the garage is estimated to be built in the 1970's and is a block foundation with a wood parking level on the second floor and the integrity is declining. He noted the rear yard creates some challenges and his goal is to build a new structure and improve the integrity,manage the setbacks favorably, and build an aesthetic structure that matches the neighborhood and is in conformance with the house. Crosby asked to see pictures of the existing garage. Johnson drove by the property and in comparing what he saw with the drawing,he noticed some increasing in massing of the height and then he learned it is bigger. Because it is in a non-conforming location, if they want to take advantage of its location being non-conforming,then increasing of the massing is not allowed.That is what he would like to discuss. Curtis showed a drawing on screen and said it is not the footprint size of the existing garage as that is getting a bit larger; she showed the height difference in the drawing. She noted the garage is currently more than conforming on the west side with 7.5 foot setbacks and the applicant has opted to encroach on the west side. She believes the property owner to the west is comfortable with that but she did not speak with them. The applicant is proposing to meet the side setback on the east where it was previously very close to the lot line. Walsh asked the width of the lot in the front. Prueter thinks it is 35 feet. Walsh said generally speaking for the garage it is 35 feet wide with 7.5 feet setbacks on each side which would give a 2 car garage. Mr. Prueter replied yes,that is what they currently have. It is 20 feet wide and is extremely tight for two moderate vehicles. Crosby asked a normal width on a two car garage. Johnson replied a garage door is 16 feet wide. Mr. Prueter noted they are proposing a 22 foot wide garage with an 18 foot wide door. Johnson noted they reduced setbacks from 10 to 7.5 to avoid variances. In this case,if they want to keep the non-conforming location,then they cannot mass them and make them bigger.They must use the same existing footprint. If one switches the location,people have come into conformity then on other garages. The Council has not allowed them to get bigger and not conform. Page 4 of 34