09-26-2022 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING September 12, 2022 6:00 o’clock p.m. _____________________________________________________________________________________ Page 2 of 9 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT REPORT 16. LA22-000041 - Eskuche Design o/b/o Chris Heim, 3005 Casco Point Road, Variance Michael Gorman, Applicant, was present. Curtis presented a summary packet of information stating the Applicant has plans to combine the existing three Hartzell Addition properties into two. Half of the existing middle lot, 2987 Casco Point Road, will be combined with the “tennis court lot” and the remaining half of 2987 Casco Point Road will be combined with 3005 Casco Point Road, resulting in the subject property for this application. For the purpose of this application the Council should treat the newly enlarged subject property as existing due to the orientation of the property in relation to the neighboring homes and the curvature of the shoreline, the Applicant is requesting an average lakeshore setback variance for the new home. The home has been designed to be sensitive to the existing views of the home at 3015 Casco Point Road. In August the Planning Commission held a public hearing and received public comment. The Seidells spoke in support and have provided supportive comments included in the packet. Following the discussion the Commission voted 3 to 2 to deny the requested Average Lakeshore Setback (ALS) variance consistent with Staff recommendation citing lack of practical difficulty. Staff’s practical difficulty analysis reflects a lack of practical difficulty to support the variance request and for this reason Staff recommends denial. Michael Gorman, along with Chris Heim, is one of the co-owners of the properties. He noted they have gone through some iterations on the project including going from three homes down to two and a core objective is to create homes that are very consistent with the neighborhood. The plan in place moves the home back 28 feet from where the current structure is and they are trying to work to preserve lakeshore, protect sight lines for neighbors, and build homes consistent with the overall feel of the neighborhood. Sven Gustafson, Stonewood, 153 Lake Street E, Wayzata, stated the practical difficulty on the project is the shape of the lot to the south (Seidell property) and the location of their house on the lot because it is further back from the lake than most other homes on the lakeshore due to the flag lot. He showed a slide on screen demonstrating the issue. He noted if the owners of the two homes were to coordinate on the timing of the construction of their two homes and were to push the home on the northern lot closer to the lake meeting the ALS, they could virtually achieve the position of the home requested in this variance request. However if they do that the home will now be an outlier sitting in front of the Goodwin’s house. He shared about moving the house 28 feet further back, keeping the rooflines from being an impedance, and curing a sideyard setback on the property. For these reasons the Applicants are asking the City Council to approve. Johnson asked about Lot 1, the tennis court lot, and Lot 2 which is proposed to be built upon first. He asked by granting this variance, the Council is not giving any new privilege to Lot 1 to be closer to the lake? Curtis replied in the negative. Johnson thinks the rendering showing the old house versus the new is very clever, a good way to see it, and they did a good job getting the neighbors on board, as well. Mayor Walsh stated when he heard that the house was going further away from the lake than it is today, that was what he needed to hear and was all good with it.