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MINUTES OF THE <br /> ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION <br /> February 22,2022 <br /> 6:00 o'clock p.m. <br /> Mr.Abbott stated that home has existed as a home for a very long time and there is not a new guest home <br /> being created here,rather they are only trying to maintain what is there in a much-improved situation than <br /> existed before. It becomes challenging because they want to see it improved and if someone else had <br /> bought it, it could have been a rental house.The use of the home will be far, far,far less than it ever could <br /> have been in its prior history.He clarified they are asking for something less than what exists today as <br /> part of the improvement. <br /> VOTE: Ayes 5,Nays 0. <br /> 3. LA22-000005 CHARLES WELF,2590 WATERTOWN ROAD,REQUESTS A FRONT YARD <br /> SETBACK VARIANCE FOR A HOME ADDITION. <br /> Staff presented a summary packet of information.Ms. Oakden stated the Applicant is requesting a 46 foot <br /> front yard setback where a 50 foot setback is required. The property consists of roughly 3.83 acres with a <br /> house and 3 out-buildings. The Applicant is proposing to demo the existing detached garage on the north <br /> side of the home and build a new addition to the south side of the home. The proposed addition will be <br /> one story and include storage,a 3 stall garage and a mudroom.The current detached garage is located to <br /> the rear of the home and is in close proximity to the septic infrastructure. The Applicant is proposing to <br /> place the new garage addition along the front of the home 46 feet from the front property line where 50 <br /> feet is required.The property is over 2 acres in size and exempt from structural and hardcover limitations. <br /> The Applicant designed the addition to protect the existing trees located along the front of the house.The <br /> addition will be screened from the road with the existing landscaping located along Watertown Road.The <br /> Applicant has identified the existing conditions of the current home location, location of the septic <br /> system, and the existing established trees as practical difficulties supporting the variance. Staff finds there <br /> is inherent difficulty with the existing locations of the home,utilities and trees on the property limiting <br /> the buildable space.However,the Applicant has alternatives for expansion which could conform to the <br /> setbacks.To date no public comments have been received. While the variance is relatively modest,the <br /> practical difficulty standards have not been proven so Staff cannot support the application. <br /> Chad Schlawin,9391 Partridge Road,Minnetrista,noted the Applicants are his in-laws and are out of <br /> town tonight, so he is representing them. The Applicants have gone through several iterations of layouts <br /> and plans without affecting the septic system and according to the architect this is the prime location for <br /> an addition. <br /> Chair Kirchner opened the public hearing at 6:50 p.m. <br /> Chair Kirchner closed the public hearing at 6:50 p.m. <br /> Chair Kirchner agrees with Staff that although it appears to be a relatively minor variance, other options <br /> exist for the addition to be done without exceeding the 50 foot setback. <br /> Ressler agrees and said approving this would set a precedent for others, similar to the last application.He <br /> is hopeful that the Applicant can revise their plans to be within the setback requirements and still make it <br /> useful for them. <br /> Erickson noted the Applicant did some positive things in protecting the immature trees on the east and <br /> moving structures away from the septic system to the south. He thinks overall it is an improvement to the <br /> Page 5 of 9 <br />