Laserfiche WebLink
MINUTES OF THE <br /> ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION <br /> Monday,September 19,2022 <br /> 6:00 o'clock p.m. <br /> against his house and was told by the Planning Commission that he should come back when his plan <br /> included getting hardcover down to 25%. <br /> Wes Byrne,2817 Casco Point Road,is on the east side of the property.He noted the extra hardcover is a <br /> concern as has already been brought up with respect to extra stormwater and the danger to the bluff in <br /> having another landslide there.With the contours of the land,the water moves towards Mr.Byrne's <br /> property and will end up going down into the stairs that go down to his lakeshore.He has retaining walls <br /> helping but he is not really pleased at that potential. The plan is to remove the landscape border between <br /> properties which is acting as a retaining wall and preventing water from that corner from going directly <br /> down to his property and the hillside. This is his primary concern. <br /> Carol Price,2813 Casco Point Road, is on the east side,and spoke about the topology of the area noting <br /> there is a high west side and all of the land slopes eastward and downward.Every subsequent property <br /> has a decrease in elevation, so neighbors affect every other neighbor. They are also on a bluff and they <br /> must protect the bluff.The hardcover limit is extremely important as they are fighting all the time to limit <br /> the water that is going down the bluff and going sideways across neighbors.The wooden timbers are part <br /> of controlling that water. She noted her lot is generally five feet higher than the existing home at 2815 <br /> Casco Point Road.Ms.Price stated the proposed deck is very large and would definitely obscure the view <br /> of the lake from her property;this would also affect property value. She thinks the patio/deck needs to be <br /> appropriate for the lot. The change from a hip roof to a gable roof will significantly affect the drainage on <br /> each side of the property.Ms. Price's property is very close,the gable roof will overhang,there are no <br /> gutters listed,or accounting for any drainage.They want to take away the wood timbers to the side and <br /> she noted her property is bumping up against those wood timbers.Any drainage would exacerbate that <br /> problem of her property falling into the Applicant's. She spoke about the garage noting it would now be a <br /> massive structure that would impede sunlight,airflow,and drainage. She commends the new homeowner <br /> P g <br /> for trying to build on the existing footprint,but would request that they meet the existing footprint and not <br /> add any more hardcover, add more to the overhangs, or the massive structure. <br /> Chair McCutcheon closed the public hearing at 6:53 p.m. <br /> Kirchner believes they failed to identify practical difficulties. Regarding the sideyard setback,he does not <br /> see practical difficulty for the roof,for the ALS and not having another place to put a deck is also not a <br /> practical difficulty, and regarding hardcover he does not see a practical difficulty established to go over <br /> on hardcover allowance.He would vote denial on all variance requests. <br /> Ressler echoed Mr.Kirchner's remarks.He added the Commissioners want to make things work for <br /> homeowners but find themselves in a situation where they must meet the guidelines,rules, and <br /> regulations in place for the City. They have made amendments to those rules and regulations to be more <br /> favorable for applications such as these than in the last 40 years.If they do not change the rules,one must <br /> provide proper practical difficulty for going outside those rules or they open up a can of worms with <br /> precedence.Ressler does not think practical difficulties have been met but that does not mean they are not <br /> reasonable,they just do not meet the City's guidelines. The Commissioners must abide by the rules that <br /> are in place right now. Ms. Saiki made a good point regarding water and drainage,and he is sure anyone <br /> involved in these plans will have to sign off on any drainage plans to make sure it meets the requirements. <br /> Ressler would also not recommend as applied. <br /> Peterson noted one person spoke positively and everyone else, including Staff spoke negatively.He <br /> agrees with denial. <br /> Page 4 of 9 <br />