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3. The Orono Planning Commission reviewed this application on February 19, 2003 <br />and on a vote of 4-2 recommended approval of the requested variances to allow <br />retention of an after-the-fact 4.5' x 12* deck in the westerly 0-75 ’ zone; <br />construction of a 4' wide walkway between the house and the garage in the 75- <br />250* zone; and development of a 400 s.f. gravel parking area in the easterly 0-75' <br />zone, based upon the following findings: <br />a) The 20'x20* parking area is a reasonable request because the possible <br />parking area in front of the garage is 1 7'-19' deep from the door to the <br />traveled paved roadway. The average compact car is 14' long, and <br />nothing longer than that could comfortably park in front of the garage <br />without affecting traffic. <br />b) With the road width being only 18' -20' wide, there is no ability to <br />parallel park cars on the street. A parking area for two vehicles on the <br />east side of the road would potentially be of benefit to the neighborhood <br />as well as to the applicant in terms of safety and reducing congestion. <br />c) In keeping with the variance standards of Section 1056 Subd.l6(J)(3), <br />because cars will be parked very near the lake, applicant should provide <br />shrubbery between the parking area and the lake for screening of vehicles, <br />and the parking area should be limited to a depth of 25 ’ measured from <br />the edge of the traveled paved road, yielding a 25-30 ’ lake setback, and <br />the shed next to the lake which constitutes unnecessary structure and <br />hardcover on the site should be removed. Applicant should also obtain <br />any other agency permits necessary to allow the placement of hardcover <br />near the lake. <br />d) The westerly 0-75' deck is supported by sufficient hardship, because it is <br />needed to ser\e the adjacent roo:n and patio door, and will have no <br />significant impact on neighbor’s views of the lake as w ell as no impacts <br />as viewed from the lake, given the recently approved landscape plan <br />which calls for trees along the extended north line of the house, which <br />would soften the visibility of the deck. <br />Page 2 of7