08-23-2021 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION Monday, July 19, 2021 6:00 o’clock p.m. _____________________________________________________________________________________ 4. LA21-000048 COURTNEY PAULSEN, 1090 WILDHURST TRAIL, REQUESTS SIDE YARD SETBACK, AVERAGE LAKESHORE SETBACK AND HARDCOVER VARIANCES IN ORDER TO CONSTRUCT A SECOND STORY ADDITION WITH A NEW LAKESIDE DECK OVER THE EXISTING HOME. (STAFF: MELANIE CURTIS) Courtney Paulsen, Applicant, was present. Staff presented a summary packet of information. Curtis stated the Applicants are requesting variances in order to construct a second story addition and new lakeside deck on the existing home including average lakeshore setback (ALS), sideyard setback on the north, and hardcover variances. The existing home is situated 2.6 feet from the north side lot line and entirely lakeward of the ALS. The proposed addition will occupy area within the required sideyard setback and ALS. The hardcover currently exceeds the 25% limitation and the Applicants are proposing a 170 square foot reduction. Curtis noted a 7.5 foot setback is required for the home. The second story addition will result in new encroachments for the second floor within the sideyard setback. The current plan shows the proposed deck stair encroaching into the sideyard more so than the home is currently. Upon receiving Staff’s modification, the Applicant intends to modify the deck so it lines up with the setback of the home on the north and add a spiral staircase to be consistent with the home setback and not encroach more into the ALS. The property currently has 31.6% hardcover and the reduction of 170 square feet includes 123 square feet from within the 75 foot setback. The Applicant has identified the existing lot configuration, neighboring home locations, and their home’s relationship to the lakeshore as practical difficulties to support the variance. Staff finds that the location of the home, the neighboring home, setbacks from the lake, the curved shoreline, and the narrowness of the Applicant’s property create practical difficulties limiting all improvement opportunities for the home. Staff recommends approval of the ALS variance to permit the second story expansions of the home as well as the sideyard setback variance for the second floor. Courtney Paulsen, 1090 Wildhurst Trail, noted they would remove 120-some of the pavers to meet the hardcover and she spoke with the land owner to the north and they would be okay with the Applicant going flush with the north side of the house. They do not want to do anything that would upset neighbors as they plan for this to be their forever home and have addressed the proposed changes with both neighbors and so far they seem to be agreeable. Chair Kirchner opened the public hearing at 8:14 p.m. Loren Schoenzeit, 4480 Forest Lake Landing, thinks it is important to note that the house at 4480 Forest Lake Landing is where it is because not shown on the survey, the City has a sewer for which they have no easement so their only building site is the particular location. Ordinarily they would ask the Planning Commission and City to enforce the ALS but the goal of the lakeshore setback is to preserve lake views and 1090 Wildhurst Trail is north of his house and the view there is not to the lake. He would request in the future if another neighbor is ahead of ALS that it would be preserved because it would challenge their view of the lake. Chair Kirchner closed the public hearing at 8:16 p.m. Chair Kirchner noted they are reducing hardcover and they are bettering a situation. He thinks this is something he could support as applied for.