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. _____________________________________________________________________________________ 4. LA20-000033 DUPONT CONSTRUCTION O/B/O CAROLYN & MASON HARDY, 1579 MAPLE PLACE, VARIANCES Carolyn Hardy, Applicant, was present. Staff presented a summary packet of information (Item 4 on the Agenda under Public Hearings). The applicant requests lot area and lot width variances; the property is 9,000 square feet in area, and has 50 feet in width where 21,780 square feet and 100‐feet in width are required. This substandard Lot of Record qualified for buildability without area and width variances and a new home was constructed on the property in 2012. However, a qualifier for taking advantage of the Lot of Record status is a hardcover limitation of 25%, although the property is within Tier 2 which allows a hardcover level of 30%. The applicant would like to construct a slightly larger deck (140 square feet); therefore, lot area and width variances are required. The applicant identified the substandard lot area and lot width as practical difficulties. Staff agrees and finds the substandard size of the property a practical difficulty. Staff recommends approval of the requested lot area and lot width variances which would permit the property to utilize 30% hardcover – the applicant is proposing 27%. Bollis asked the hardcover levels of the neighboring homes on each side. Curtis replied many of the homes in this strip of Maple Place were built by the same builder who took advantage of the Lot of Record status. She did not look to see if any had received lot area or width variances, but they were all either conforming to 25% or had received variances. Carolyn Hardy, 1579 Maple Place, stated they are the second owners and the deck was put in before they purchased the property and is unsafe. There are simply trying to replace the bad deck with a good deck and hopefully fit all four of their family out there. Kirchner is trying to understand how much larger this deck would be. Ms. Hardy thinks it is 8x9 foot deck and they are asking for a 10x10 deck. Chair Kirchner opened the public hearing at 7:04 p.m. Chair Kirchner closed the public hearing at 7:04 p.m. Kirchner stated this seems fairly simple and reasonable; they are not maxing out the 30% hardcover level. He asked if it expands any wider than the existing exterior of the home. Curtis replied no it does not and it meets the setbacks. Kirchner does not have any problems with this application. Libby supports Staff’s recommendation. Bollis questions how these lots were able to be developed in the first place with the Lot of Record. He is sure they will have applications from other lots wanting to go to the 30%.