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EXHIBIT L <br />September 15,20(M <br />City Ptanning Commission <br />OronoCity Hall <br />2730 Kelley Parkway <br />Ornno.MN 55356 <br />Re: 356 Westlake Si. Variance Request <br />In preparation for next Monday's Commission meeting, we thought it might be lielpful to briefly <br />sliaic a few quick llioughts regarding our variance application. Please know that >our staff, <br />especially Janice Gundlach and Tom Kellogg, have been exemplary in their work with us Both <br />are well informed, fair, and very helpful. Wc have made every effort, and believe we have <br />ctimplied with each of their requests for changes to our submission. This process has been made <br />iniicfi easier thanks to their support. <br />■ Kationnic for request Wc believe that without a variance to the 30 H side setback our lot <br />cannot be put to reasonable use. Denial will have a significant negative impact on the <br />economic value of this property and the two adjoining 50 fi lots to the north. While <br />appreciating that there are no guarantees, our understanding from reading historical <br />Planning Commission and Council minutes prior to purchasing the lot, is tluit for new <br />construction on a 50 fi lot, a lO-fi side setback and lot size variance would be granted <br />with minimal intervention required by the city. These lots typically passed via Consent <br />Agenda in both bodies A denial of this application would indicate a significant change <br />of direction impacting a large number of 50ft landowners in the city. <br />• Rights of landowners: We believe consistency in interpretation and the fundamental <br />rights of the homeowner to build arc an important part of retaining the urban and rural <br />character or Orono. We noticed a similar vision in the Orono Land Use Plan: <br />**Alt land owners must have equal Itmd use opportunities So land ouner sitould be <br />denied the right to develop Ins land by tmy staged growth, land banking or no-growth <br />policy, provided the development con be accomplished within the performance standards, <br />policies and requirements of the Community Management Plan" fp!2) <br />We have made every effort to comply with the Community Management plan and believe <br />that isolating three 50 foot lots on Westlake would constitute land banking that limits the <br />landowner rigiiis of the three families involved.