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MINUTES OF THE <br /> ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION <br /> Monday,May 17,2021 <br /> 6:00 o'clock p.m. <br /> ROLL CALL <br /> The Orono Planning Commission met on the above-mentioned date with the following members present: <br /> Chair Scott Kirchner, Commissioners Chris Bollis, Bob Erickson,Matt Gettman,Dennis Libby,Mark <br /> McCutcheon,and Jon Ressler. Representing Staff were Community Development Director Jeremy <br /> Barnhart and City Planner Melanie Curtis. <br /> Chair Kirchner called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.,followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. <br /> APPROVAL OF AGENDA <br /> Libby moved,Bollis seconded,to approve the Agenda.VOTE: Ayes 7,Nays 0. <br /> APPROVAL OF PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES OF APRIL 19,2021 <br /> Gettman moved,Libby seconded,to approve the minutes of the Orono Planning Commission <br /> meeting of April 19,2021 as submitted. <br /> APPROVAL OF PLANNING COMMISSION WORKSHOP MINUTES OF APRIL 19,2021 <br /> Erickson moved,Ressler seconded,to approve the minutes of the Orono Planning Commission <br /> workshop meeting of April 19,2021 as submitted.VOTE: Ayes 7,Nays 0. <br /> NEW BUSINESS <br /> 1. LA21-000030 TOM BERGSTROM, 1509 LONG LAKE BLVD,VARIANCES <br /> Tom Bergstrom,Applicant,was present. <br /> Staff presented a summary packet of information(Item 1 on the Agenda under Public Hearings). Curtis <br /> noted the owner received variances to redevelop the property with a new home and deck; at this time the <br /> applicant is requesting rear street setback and 75 foot setback variances in order to expand the existing <br /> deck by 227 square feet including a spiral staircase. The property owner has indicated a willingness to <br /> remove an 80 square foot patio within the 75-foot setback to facilitate approval of the requested <br /> variances. Staff finds the variances are not supported by practical difficulty and recommends denial of <br /> requested variances to enlarge the deck as the property has reasonable use with the existing <br /> improvements. <br /> Bollis asked regarding the 80 square foot patio: was that part of the 2018 redevelopment or was it existing <br /> prior? <br /> Curtis replied it was preexisting. <br /> Tom Bergstrom, 1509 Long Lake Blvd,did not know he did not want a diamond-shaped lot until he <br /> moved into the lot as one cannot do much with it as shown regarding the lake setback and road setback. <br /> He is requesting to have a deck that would be approximately a smaller size than all of the existing lake <br /> owners on the lake.His nearby neighbors to the west have large decks;the average deck in the U.S. is <br /> approximately 300-400 square feet and Mr.Bergstrom is requesting 395 square feet. He thinks it is <br /> Page 1 of 21 <br />