06-27-2022 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

MINUTES OF THE ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION Monday, May 16, 2022 6:00 o’clock p.m. _____________________________________________________________________________________ ROLL CALL The Orono Planning Commission met on the above-mentioned date with the following members present: Chair Mark McCutcheon, Vice Chair Scott Kirchner, Commissioners Chris Bollis, Dennis Libby, Jon Ressler, Bob Erickson, and Alternate Dave Peterson. Commissioner Matt Gettman was absent. Representing Staff were Community Development Director Jeremy Barnhart, City Planner Melanie Curtis, and City Planner Laura Oakden. 1. LA22-000017 JON RESSLER, 3683 & 3685 NORTH SHORE DRIVE, REQUESTS A LOT WIDTH VARIANCES AS PART OF AN ADMINISTRATIVE BOUNDARY LINE ADJUSTMENT BETWEEN THE TWO PROPERTIES. (STAFF: LAURA OAKDEN) Commissioner Ressler is part of the application and recused himself. He stepped away from his seat. Jon Ressler and Frank Plachecki, Applicants, were present. City Planner Oakden noted Ressler and Plachecki are neighboring property owners at 3683 and 3685 North Shore Drive. The Applicants are looking to complete an administrative boundary line. Moving the property boundary is a staff administrative action as long as no new non-conformities are created or an existing non-conformity is not increased. Each property will require a lot width variance in order to allow the boundary line adjustment and the existing lot width non-conformity will increase. Lot width is measured in 2 places on lakeshore properties, at the ordinary high water level (OHWL) and at the 75 foot lakeyard setback. Properties in the LR-1C district require 100 foot lot width. Both properties are nonconforming to lot width, area and setbacks. Due to the angle of the proposed lot line, the lot width will decrease at the 75 foot lakeyard setback from 54 feet to 52 feet at 3683 (the smaller property on screen) and at 3685 the lot width will decrease from 92 feet to 82 feet at the OHWL. The new property boundary will maintain the same lot area sizes. Oakden stated the new property line will improve many of the non- conformities on the both parcels. The building setback, overall hardcover, and lot width at the OHWL will improve on the smaller property; currently all of those are non-conforming and all will improve and come closer to the City Code. The new property line will move off the existing driveway bringing the driveway setback closer to conformance for 3685 North Shore Drive. Oakden showed a slide on screen showing the proposed adjustments. The Applicant has primarily identified the existing conditions and the improvement of many non-conformities to the city Codes for each property as practical difficulties supporting the requested variance lot width variances and boundary line adjustment. Additionally, they have provided their supporting documentation regarding practical difficulties attached as Exhibit B, and should be asked for additional testimony regarding the application. Staff finds that the proposed lot line adjustment improving existing non-conformities on hardcover, building setbacks, and driveway setbacks is a positive improvement. The lot width variance requested may be supported by practical difficulty. Staff finds there may be some practical difficulties to support that lot width variance. Jon Ressler, 3683 North Shore Drive, stated the reason for this application is to apply how the property has been used in practice for over three decades. Chair McCutcheon opened the public hearing at 6:10 p.m.