08-08-2022 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION Monday, July 18, 2022 6:00 o’clock p.m. _____________________________________________________________________________________ PUBLIC HEARINGS 2. LA22-000035 ALEXANDER DESIGN GROUP, 2659 CASCO POINT ROAD, REQUESTS VARIANCES FOR HARDCOVER, LOT AREA AND LOT WIDTH IN CONJUNCTION WITH REDEVELOPMENT OF THE PROPERTY. (STAFF: MELANIE CURTIS) Kristy Raasch, Alexander Design Group, and Atrion Faiola. Applicant, were present. City Planner Curtis gave a presentation on the item and asked if the Commissioners received her email that afternoon with revised plans to the application. The Applicant has provided revised plans in response to the Staff recommendation of denial within the report. They are requesting variances in order to construct a new home on a property with substandard area and width. According to the revised plans they continue to request a hardcover variance to permit 29.2% hardcover where 25% is permitted; 32.1% currently exists and the original request reflect 30.8% hardcover. The revised plan reflects a 214 square foot reduction, they have eliminated the requested structural coverage variance and now show 20% conforming structural coverage. The boat house or shed down by the lake is existing and is planned to be rebuilt in-kind. The Applicant has stated that the size and width of the property provide challenges for development. The nonconforming lot size limits the amount of building footprint and hardcover from that of a conforming sized lot. They have provided supporting documentation and should be asked for additional testimony regarding the application. In this neighborhood, Staff finds practical difficulties inherent to the size and shape of the lot affecting the property which justifies the variances allowing redevelopment. However, the proposed structural coverage level, hardcover level, and deck stair encroachment into the side setback are not supported by practical difficulties. The plans have been modified to reduce building coverage and resulting hardcover, and the side setback for the deck stair has been eliminated. The Applicant submitted a neighborhood letter with signatures from neighbors; one neighbor comment was received via email and distributed today and should be included in the public record. Staff finds the lot area and width variances are supported by practical difficulty and Staff supports granting those variances. Staff would additionally support some level of hardcover variance for the redevelopment. Planning Commission should determine if revised hardcover level is supported by practical difficulty. Ms. Raasch stated with the lot being substandard they found it very difficult to get to the 25% and because the lot has an existing boat house it is also adding to the structural coverage and hardcover. She noted they are trying to improve the parking with a side-load garage and driveway which will allow more parking on their driveway and less on Casco Point Road. Chair McCutcheon opened the public hearing at 6:18 p.m. There were no public comments. Chair McCutcheon closed the public hearing at 6:18 p.m. The Commissioners discussed the item. Libby asked if the shed will be purely storage which is why they are looking at like-kind. Ms. Raasch replied in the affirmative. Chair McCutcheon noted it is an improvement and he would like to hear the Commissioners’ opinion on whether they are okay with the hardcover.