03-10-2003 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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>1 TO: FROM: DAIE: RE: cc: Mayor Barbara Peterson and the Honorable Members of the City Council Lakeshore homeowners on Westlake Street March 1,2003 332 Westlake Street Proposal City Staff The purpose of this letter to the city is to demonstrate our support for the plans current homeowners Blake and Mary Bichanich have with a buyer, also from Orono, for 332 Westlake Street. We, as lakeshore homeowners on Westlake Street, have .eviewed the plans for a new home at 332 Westlake Street with the Bichanichs, and fully support them. The plans call for building a new home on or near the location of the existing home. We tolieve these plans are conducive to the future development of this neighborhood. We feel that 15' side yard setbacks for a 100' lot are appropriate and in keeping with the neighborhood. The rezoning of our neighborhood in 1975 to LR-1A with it's 2 acre minimum, 200 ’ of lake shore, and 30' side yard setbacks did not recognize the existing conditions or the character of the established Westlake Street neighborhood. Not a single lakeshore property on Westlake Street was able to meet or conform to the new criteria at the time of the rezoning, and not one conforms today. These existing lots are smaller than those lots the 1975 rezoning meant to address. We feel that the rezoning has placed undue hardships on the neighborhood, and restricted our property rights. Greater setbacks will act as a disincentive for any of us who may want to combine our properties in the future. If the City's goal is to reduce the density of the area, then they should encourage, not discourage the combination of any of the remaining 50' wide lots We respectfully request your support on this issue, and as a neighborhood we ask that you grant the Bichanichs the right to continue with 15' side vard setbacks as requested. Sincerely. UT»0 V Ovnd<.- D-'' n 'I -lomiin 4,^ o f? P UiiLERS NEiGHBORHOUD SUPPORT LETTER DOC