06-14-2021 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION Monday, May 17, 2021 6:00 o’clock p.m. _____________________________________________________________________________________ 3. LA21-000032 AL AZAD, 165 BEDERWOOD DR, VARIANCES Al Azad, Applicant, was present. Staff presented a summary packet of information (Item 3 on the Agenda under Public Hearings). The applicant is requesting approvals in order to redevelop the property with a new single family home. Requested variances are for the following: lot area, lot width, and front and rear setback. Staff finds the LR‐1A zoning district requirements, lot size, width, and the unique configuration without actual road frontage in an easement driveway create practical difficulties for development. However, there is a reasonable, conforming building envelope available to the property owner. If the proposed home were rotated slightly it would nearly fit into the allowed building envelope (showed on screen). The existing envelope appears to provide adequate space with which to construct a conforming home footprint. Staff suggests the applicant re-orient the home to better fit into the permitted envelope. Planning Department Staff recommends denial of the setback variances; however, Staff supports lot width and lot area variances allowing for redevelopment. McCutcheon said it seems that they need a variation for every setback and asked why the existing envelope is better than this one. Curtis noted the lot has historically been defined as the front with the eastern lot line which would thereby dictate the other setback yards. It is an awkward orientation as the lot does not have frontage on Bederwood Drive, the road continues up into the Luce Line property and becomes a driveway for this residence. McCutcheon asked if the proposed front will be the south or the north. Curtis said they are not changing the proposed front but are asking to be 15.3 feet from the defined front, 10 feet on the side as the Luce Line property cuts through 44.8 from the west (rear), and 39 from the side. Bollis asked if an analysis has been done in redefining the lot lines so that the north line was the front line; is there a different legal buildable envelope that conforms more with what they are proposing? Curtis said potentially but the front would still be 50 feet. Barnhart did a cursory analysis of that and there is less buildable area if they consider the north property line the front. Al Azad, 165 Bederwood Drive, noted the house is quite old and they are trying to remodel it and fix it up; they decided for community enhancement to rebuild the house. The garage, although they are saying detached, is actually attached as there is a little sidewalk separating the garage from the house but the roof is attached. They are putting the house exactly where the old house is but is a bit bigger than the old house.