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MINUTES OF THE <br /> ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION <br /> November 21,2022 <br /> 6:00 o'clock p.m. <br /> Chair McCutcheon opened the public hearing at 7:37 p.m. <br /> Penny Saiki,2874 Casco Point Road, stated they knew about this from the beginning and if the owner <br /> didn't know,the builder did. To say one cannot get out of their garage is a poor design and whoever <br /> designed it knew a 24 foot radius for a car is normal. The inside of the house is huge and they could have <br /> moved the garage up and had less of a foyer.Ms. Saiki stated it is bad planning on their part and it was <br /> not included on the permit. <br /> Chair McCutcheon closed the public hearing at 7:38 p.m. <br /> Ressler stated it makes sense for a turnaround to be there,however making sense is not a practical <br /> difficulty.Approving this would establish precedence for others with this type of application.That is <br /> where Ressler struggles. <br /> Chair McCutcheon stated in Orono one needs to know about average lakeshore setback(ALS)and he sees <br /> three structures now within the ALS which is a bad thing. The City cares about the lake and does not want <br /> runoff into the lake.The rules are there for a reason. <br /> Kraemer thinks the public comment received that it was very poor planning is very,very accurate. He <br /> does not think the Commission wants to set precedent in granting variances after the fact and it is a big <br /> red flag. It says that it is okay to do what one wants and then come back and ask for forgiveness.He feels <br /> bad that the homeowner did not get better advice or planning on this,but he has a hard time agreeing with <br /> the application. <br /> Libby noted this could have been remedied if there had been consultation with City engineering; it would <br /> have been recommended to build a little less house to allow for a different form of driveway access.The <br /> Applicant may not have realized the importance of pulling permits but one cannot create their own <br /> practical difficulty and could have built a slightly smaller house.He is not in support and agrees with <br /> Staff's recommendations. <br /> Chair McCutcheon agrees with Libby. <br /> Ressler moved,Libby seconded,to deny LA22-000051 Paul Taunton,3600 Ivy Place VOTE: Ayes: <br /> 4,Nays 0. <br /> 4. LA22-000055 ESKUCHE DESIGN,3838 CHERRY AVENUE,REQUESTS VARIANCES <br /> FOR AVERAGE LAKESHORE SETBACK,75-FOOT LAKE SETBACK,AND <br /> HARDCOVER IN ORDER TO CONSTRUCT ADDITIONS TO THE EXISTING HOME. <br /> Sara and Travis Wildenberg,Applicants,were present. <br /> City Planner Curtis gave a presentation on the item, stating the existing home on the property is situated <br /> almost entirely lakeward of the 75-foot setback line;most of the home is also within the average <br /> lakeshore setback. The Applicant provided an updated narrative,not included in the planning report, <br /> which was emailed and placed at the Commissioners' seats. It includes a revised practical difficulty <br /> analysis. The majority of the existing single story home is situated lakeward of the average lakeshore and <br /> 75-foot lake setbacks. The lake side deck projects over the OHWL and the lake.The Applicant is <br /> Page 9 of 13 <br />