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• Re: 2605 North Shore Drive, Orono, MN <br /> Eskuche Design Group <br /> Peter Eskuche,AIA <br /> 7 June 2022 <br /> Variance Application <br /> Version 2.0 <br /> Honorable Plan Commission, City Council Members and City Planner, <br /> We appreciate your consideration for the variance request to permit a replacement home <br /> at 2605 North Shore Drive. We have worked diligently with our Client and have met with <br /> the City Staff to develop this proposal to achieve its highest and best use balancing the <br /> client's needs,a cohesive architectural layout,and the city's planning guidelines. We <br /> received and listened to the feedback from the city and as a result have made modifications <br /> to the drawings to address their concerns. <br /> We received approval in October of 2019 for a larger home that has since been reduced in <br /> size with less lakeshore encroachment and well within the hardcover allowed. <br /> The lakeside setbacks are the primary practical difficulty.We have provided a site plan <br /> showing the conforming building area which illustrates clearly how the unusual,irregular <br /> • and undersized triangular shape would not provide an adequate family home.The main <br /> reason is that French Creek flows through half of the property creating an additional <br /> shoreline from which to set the house back. <br /> The existing property has a very small amount grass area in which to recreate.The creek <br /> divides the property making all the upland area nearly inaccessible and what area is left is <br /> needed for vehicles to access the home. <br /> The existing home is almost completely within the lakeshore setback,being less than 28' <br /> from the lake at the closest point and only 88'at the furthest point.The current home's <br /> floorplan is obsolete with room arrangements and a layout that no longer meets the needs <br /> of today's homeowner. Despite painting and replacing some windows,the existing home is <br /> a negative detriment on the context of the neighborhood and the shoreline of Lake <br /> Minnetonka. <br /> This current proposal reduces the proposed lakeside encroachment from 27'-10"to 47' at <br /> the closest point of the home's structure.The proposed deck face is 211/2 feet further from <br /> lake than existing and the proposed primary house face is set back 28'/2 feet further from <br /> lake than existing. If the average lakeshore setback was considered,the proposed home <br /> would be conforming because of the setback of the adjacent homes. We previously <br /> received a unanimous Variance approval for a more non-conforming lakeshore setback <br /> than we are currently requesting. Our current deck doesn't encroach into Average <br /> Lakeshore Setback while the previously approved raised patio encroached approx. 9'-10". <br /> Our proposal reduces the massing of the property.The previously approved residence had <br /> a second floor,however this proposal is a walk-out rambler without a second floor.We <br />