10-11-2021 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION Monday, September 20, 2021 6:00 o’clock p.m. __________________________________________________________________________________ 4. LA21-000051 ROBERT LINDEN CONSTRUCTION - ROBERT LINDEN, 1074 LOMA LINDA AVENUE, VARIANCES (STAFF: MELANIE CURTIS) Merrilee Lundquist, o/b/o John Lundquist, Applicant, was present. Staff presented a summary packet of information. Curtis stated the current home was constructed in approximately 1931. The property has been in the family of the current owner since 1951. The Applicant is proposing a project that will add a second story and rebuild the garage, attaching it to the home via a 141 square foot connecting addition on the main level. The existing home has two bedrooms and one bathroom, all on the 2nd floor. The Applicant is proposing to reconfigure the main level to accommodate a half bath and construct an additional bedroom/office and bathroom over the new garage to improve function and livability. The existing 1½ story home is in a conforming location with respect to setbacks. The addition will result in the house itself becoming non-conforming with respect to the side and rear setbacks so setback variances are needed. The current plan reflects reductions and alterations based on Staff guidance. Staff finds that the narrowness of the property and the location of the existing home limit improvement opportunities for expansions or improvements beyond the existing home footprint or envelope. Planning Staff recommends approval of the variances subject to the Applicant addressing stormwater runoff. Merrilee Lundquist, 975 Tonkawa, is present to speak for her son John Lundquist who inherited the house from his grandmother in 2009 and is out of town on business. Ms. Lundquist grew up in the home and noted the structure is solid but needs a lot of updating and improvement. They tried to find a place for another bedroom in the main house and it is not really possible. She thinks connecting the main house to the garage is a good project. Loma Linda Road is 50-foot lots and the basic face of the road is all garage and she thinks it is important to update the street-side. Ms. Lundquist noted the neighbors welcome the updating of the house and that the house is too small for her son to possibly raise a family there. Gettman asked in talking with neighbors across the street, especially the one with a deck that overlooks the house, what have they said about adding a second story to the garage. Ms. Lundquist replied the homes were mostly cottages and have been redone. She has spoken to those neighbors and they both signed off as she explained and answered their questions. Gettman asked what if everyone in the neighborhood put on a two-story garage, does Ms. Lundquist think that would change the character of the neighborhood at all? Ms. Lundquist noted the one next door is torn down, and there are three houses on the street that having living space over a garage. Robert Linden, 4356 5th Street NE, Columbia Heights, will be the builder and said it is a 1½ story and everything will be hand-framed. They are preserving access to the well, and he explained the proposed additions including 2.5 feet of kitchen space and a stairwell. Kirchner opened the public hearing at 7:24 p.m. Oliver White, 1040 Loma Linda Avenue, is about 2-3 houses north and he and his wife support the Applicant’s proposal. Kirchner closed the public hearing at 7:25 p.m.