11-14-2022 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION October 17, 2022 6:00 o’clock p.m. _____________________________________________________________________________________ Bollis can see where Staff is going but also sees some of the practical difficulties with the lot and configuration. He noted this would be making the scenario better, the hardcover better, and thinks it may actually be more conforming to the neighborhood than the existing scenario two houses to the north. Ressler agrees with Bollis. One thing he sees is that the right-of-way is not counting against them but is also not counting for them. He noted they are removing hardcover and generally the spirit of that is to help with drainage. He would like to consider giving them credit for what they are giving up for hardcover there as it would be a good mitigate for subsidizing drainage that would be added or impacted inside the property line that is being counted against them. He would be open to looking at that to give them credit above and beyond. McCutcheon spoke about the angle of the lot lines causing the setback at such a sharp angle. In looking at the neighborhood they are jam-packed and it is a busy road with safety being a big concern. He considers safety, practical difficulty, and that sharp angle. Kirchner is of the opposite belief of most points made. He understands the spirit of giving credit for the removal of hardcover in the right-of-way but then arguably they should expand everyone’s hardcover allowance for every variance request to include the right-of-way in front of their home. He thinks it is a slippery slope to add that as a consideration for this one. Kirchner does not think the size is egregious but thinks 24x24 is standard size for a two car garage. Erickson thinks a change from a zero setback to a setback is a huge improvement. The turnaround and better access into the garage is another vital aspect of the application. He would have a different interpretation of numbers 11 and 12 in the Staff report; 11 mentions health and safety and the improved driveway is a big safety improvement. By having the third garage it puts less pressure on the turnaround area to be used as parking which would then cause people to turn around on the County Road again. Regarding number 12, Erickson thinks the garage and driveway increases the functionality of the home and he does not consider those items as a convenience but something that adds functionality which leads to improved safety. With those things in mind he would be willing to support the application as presented. McCutcheon agrees it is a slippery slope. In a lakeshore community, with many visitors, that is a busy road and backing into a busy road is not a good thing. It is a well thought-out design and it is improving the situation. Libby supports Kirchner’s leaning toward City Ordinance and noted it is hard not to agree with the Commissioners who brought up more practical matters. His business office is off County Road 51 and he is sensitive that it is a fast and busy road. He thinks having a turnaround rather than backing out is an incredibly enhanced safety feature. It is difficult to be somewhat in the middle of these two very logical approaches but he would tend to support the application. Ressler moved, Libby seconded, to approve LA22-000052, 1780 Shadywood Road, variances as applied. Bollis asked if it would be possible to put a condition that there not be parking on the west side of the garage at the spot they are eliminating. Curtis noted parking spaces are hardcover. If the Applicant were to choose to park there they would put themselves out of conformance. VOTE: Ayes: 5, Nays 1 (Kirchner).