06-14-2021 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

MINUTES OF THE ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION Monday, May 17, 2021 6:00 o’clock p.m. _____________________________________________________________________________________ a hallway on a deck to work inside of that. He noted it would be a very small corner, less than 10 square feet in total in that area; he showed the house that was torn down less than two years ago on screen. Kirchner noted the Commission has a note from a neighbor stating they have no concerns with the proposal. Ressler stated the Commission has to work with what they have as guidelines for the City. There have been other applications that have had as reasonable or more reasonable means for approving the application – however, it has been made loud-and-clear that the City Council does not necessarily agree and they draw a pretty hard line on meeting the defined practical difficulties. He thinks that will be the pushback regardless of the outcome of the Commission’s vote. Once it gets to the Council it is not necessarily something that is granted. Libby asked the applicant if there is any resistance to modify the proposed deck in a more linear manner in the front where the encroachment into the 75 foot setback is, bringing the deck front, back, equal, to deck B. He asked Curtis if that would bring it back enough out of the 75 foot setback? Mr. Bergstrom would be willing to do that, he has met with the City several times and sent dozens of emails, and the hardship is the corner of the deck. He would be absolutely open to any work around to try to enjoy the hardcover space up to 25%. Libby said the encroachment into the 75 foot setback and the surface area of the patio are really not a trade-off because there would still be a remaining encroachment in to the 75 with the physical location of the deck. He is trying to take a constructive method in designing the deck to remove the encroachment into the75 which the Commission has regularly and consistently maintained as a metric of ordinance. Bollis asked if Mr. Bergstrom has a calculation for the amount of the proposed deck over the 75 foot setback. Mr. Bergstrom replied approximately 16 feet total. He would be removing approximately 95 square feet of hardcover which is better for the City and better for the lakes. Ressler does not feel that it is a fair exchange removing hardcover in exchange for structure. He does not think it is an unreasonable ask but he does not know it can be approved under the guidelines the Commission must abide by. Ressler moved, seconded by Libby, to deny LA21-000030, 1509 Long Lake Blvd, Variances as submitted. VOTE: Ayes: 7, Nays 0.