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MINUTES OF THE <br /> ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION <br /> Monday, September 19,2022 <br /> 6:00 o'clock p.m. <br /> McCutcheon noted the reduction of hardcover is always a plus and if one wants to move a structure(the <br /> garage)the end result needs to reduce hardcover.He asked if the garage has been demolished yet. <br /> Mr. Gates replied in the negative. <br /> Curtis clarified that is a part of the building permit and they have already demonstrated they can do that <br /> without variances. <br /> Ressler noted it does play into the hardcover and exceeding hardcover becomes a variance.He does not <br /> see that the Applicant is meeting requirements to exceed hardcover. <br /> McCutcheon asked about the rock bed at the front and asked about hardcover regarding a deck or patio. <br /> Curtis clarified they could turn that landscaped area into an on-grade patio or grade level deck. <br /> Mr.Gates spoke about hardcover and noted they are reducing hardcover significantly from 31%to 26%. <br /> The wooden borders are in pretty bad shape and while they are removing those,they will replace with <br /> boulders that serve the same purpose.Regarding the 26%hardcover,the belief is reducing and improving <br /> the situation is part of the purpose of a variance;they are improving the situation not making it worse. <br /> They are not increasing runoff of the house,not increasing the physical footprint,and reducing hardcover. <br /> the guidance that would be helpful is regarding the portion at-grade behind the existing patio,would the <br /> Commissioners be amenable to doing it at-grade with a slight hardcover variance slightly above the 25%? <br /> McCutcheon noted it is hard to say without seeing something. <br /> Ressler thinks if they are currently at 31%hardcover and are proposing less at-grade,an improvement of <br /> the situation is always what the City Council is looking for.He cannot guarantee the City Council would <br /> be in support but Ressler would certainly look at it more favorably. <br /> Bollis thinks the issue is that the Applicant has already demonstrate they can go down to the 25%so it is <br /> hard to wrap their heads around a practical difficulty that now they need another 1%.This is just his view <br /> of it. <br /> Mr. Gates spoke about drainage noting he spoke with the owner at 2817 and indicated they would work <br /> with the owner to try and improve the grading.As Mr. Gates understands it,the owner was selling the <br /> property and was not interested at that time.Regarding 2813,there is a patio on the corner of their house <br /> that encroaches past the ASL,and he is sure that is grandfathered in,but noted it is a little frustrating <br /> when someone comes and speaks against something when they have the same issue.Mr.Gates believes <br /> they may even have some setbacks on the other side of their property. <br /> Bollis asked if Mr. Gates sees drainage getting better with the gabled roof and if they can control the <br /> runoff. <br /> Mr.Gates noted they control the runoff because they only have sides.In theory,they are increasing the <br /> runoff to the sides slightly but with gutters on the gable ends and landscaping,they can better help that. It <br /> is easier on their side to get it to the street.He spoke about elevations of the surrounding properties noting <br /> Page 5 of 9 <br />