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MINUTES OF THE <br />ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION <br />Monday, September 19, 2022 <br />6:00 o’clock p.m. <br />_____________________________________________________________________________________ <br /> <br />Page 1 of 9 <br /> <br /> <br />ROLL CALL <br /> <br />The Orono Planning Commission met on the above-mentioned date with the following members present: <br />Chair Mark McCutcheon, Commissioners Chris Bollis, Dennis Libby, Jon Ressler, Bob Erickson, and <br />Alternates Dave Peterson and Gary Kraemer. Commissioner Matt Gettman was absent. Representing <br />Staff were Community Development Director Laura Oakden and City Planner Melanie Curtis. <br /> <br />Chair McCutcheon called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m., followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. <br /> <br />APPROVAL OF AGENDA <br /> <br />Libby moved, Ressler seconded, to approve the Agenda. VOTE: Ayes 7, Nays 0. <br /> <br />APPROVAL OF PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES OF AUGUST 15, 2022 <br /> <br />Kirchner moved, Kraemer seconded, to approve the minutes of the Orono Planning Commission <br />meeting of August 15, 2022. VOTE: Ayes 7, Nays 0. <br /> <br />PUBLIC HEARINGS <br /> <br />1. LA22-000036 SCOTT GATES, 2815 CASCO POINT ROAD, REQUESTS HARDCOVER, <br />AVERAGE LAKESHORE SETBACK, AND SIDE YARD SETBACK VARIANCES TO <br />PERMIT A LAKESIDE DECK AND ROOF CHANGES. (STAFF: MELANIE CURTIS) <br /> <br />Scott Gates, on behalf of the Applicant, was present. <br /> <br />Staff gave a summary presentation of the item. Curtis stated the owners purchased the property in April <br />2022 and have planned improvements to the home. They have recently applied for a permit to construct a <br />garage addition to the rear of the home, meeting the setbacks. The garage addition project reflects changes <br />to the site which bring the existing hardcover level down from 31.1% to a conforming 25%. Regarding <br />practical difficulty, Staff finds there are difficulties in the location of the existing home which may <br />support the variances for the change in the rooflines. Staff may be able to support he average lakeshore <br />setback variance for the change in the lakeside roof mass as long as the change does not adversely impact <br />views of the lake from the neighboring homes. The average lakeshore setback request pertaining to the <br />new deck cannot be supported. As proposed, the elevated deck and railing appear to impact the lake views <br />for the adjacent neighbor(s). A grade-level deck or on-grade patio (≤ 42 inches from existing grade) can <br />be constructed in the same location. Regarding the requested hardcover variance, the application for <br />building permit demonstrates that a level of 25% hardcover is achievable and therefore staff does not find <br />practical difficulty supporting a hardcover variance. The existing home is located between 4.8 – 7.5 feet <br />from the west side lot line. The changes proposed to the roof structure from a hip roof on the street and <br />lake sides to gable ends will also increase the mass of the home encroaching within the average lakeshore <br />setback. Curtis spoke about public comments noting most of the comments do not overly support the <br />project. Based on the plans Staff was unable to fully evaluate the existing and proposed massing <br />increases/changes to the roof. Staff recommends the Applicant redesign the plans to limit or eliminate <br />variances. Regarding the variances requested to permit the new lakeside deck Staff finds that the project <br />should be adjusted to accommodate the additional hardcover to stay within 25%. Planning Staff <br />recommends denial of the average lakeshore setback variance and hardcover variance relating to the deck.