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MINUTES OF THE <br />ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION <br />February 22, 2022 <br />6:00 o’clock p.m. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />Ressler agrees they are improving the position and asked if they tore it down to rebuild as a carriage <br />house, this would be conforming as an accessory building. <br /> <br />Ms. Curtis replied in the affirmative. <br /> <br />Ressler agrees with Staff that the lakeside deck and walkway close to the shoreline be removed. He <br />appreciates the Applicant removing the curb cut and agrees with Bollis on the parking and not allowing it <br />to spill out onto the street. He noted even though the stamped concrete is beautiful to see, if the Applicant <br />could remove that and propose an area that does not need a new curb cut to allow for additional parking <br />they could see if there is support from the City on that. Ressler could support hardcover for parking if it <br />did not require additional curb cuts. He agrees with Staff’s decision and would be supportive for most of <br />this but not as it is applied. He thinks it would get too messy to do an amended vote to approve rather than <br />to recommend denial as submitted with the feedback he has provided. He noted that for the consideration <br />of the City Council. <br /> <br />Erickson thinks it is admirable that the effort has been made to acquire an additional non-conforming <br />property and re-divide it and that is commendable. Unfortunately, it creates some other problems such as <br />hardcover. It leaves him in a bit of a quandary. <br /> <br />Libby noted it is complicated. He finds some contradictions with the idea that another curb cut could <br />facilitate additional parking but does not align with Staff recommendations. He thinks the additional <br />conditions in paragraph number 7 are all prudent and should follow suit if the Applicant was to <br />accomplish, in spirit, what they are trying to do. Libby stated it is a catch-22 in a way because it does not <br />meet Code yet the recommendation of Staff does not support having a second curb cut so they are at an <br />impasse. He cannot add anything constructive as an additional recommendation and thinks they need to <br />see how the City Council looks at this. <br /> <br />Chair Kirchner does not support the existing house being used as a guest house. They have heard <br />statements about congestion issues and leaving an additional dwelling unit does not alleviate that <br />congestion. <br /> <br />Ressler moved, Libby seconded, to deny LA22-000001 Tim & Leslie Oare and John & Michele <br />Abbott, 2941 Casco Point Road and 2967 Casco Point Road, Hardcover Variances, a Lot Area <br />Variance for a Guest House, and a Conditional Use Permit for a Guest House as Part of a <br />Boundary Line Adjustment and Lot Combination of the Property at 2965 Casco Point Road. <br /> <br />Ms. Oare said Casco Point Road does not have curbs and asked what the definition of a curb cut is. <br /> <br />Ms. Curtis replied it is a driveway access. <br /> <br />Ms. Oare clarified if a relative came to visit in the summer, they could not stay in the house. <br /> <br />Chair Kirchner replied not without a conditional use permit. <br /> <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