07-28-2003 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING Monday, July 21,2003 6:00 o’clock p.m. Due to a lack of viable hardship, and the stipulation set forth in Resolution #4645 which set limits for the property, staff would recommend denial of both variance requests. Germundsen stated that sightlines for his neighbors are not a concern and referred to letters from neighbors submitted to Planner Bottenberg. He indicated that both neighbors on either side of his home have decks that extend further than his home. He stated that, originally, he underestimated how bad parking on Highwood Road was, and that drainage would be as significant an issue as it has proven to be. Germundsen stated that, currently, all of the water running down Highwood runs between him and his neighbor's property; therefore, warranting the need for the retaining walls. He maintained that the driveway did not exceed what was approved, and believed miscalculations must exist. He stated that he had no other outside structures on the property to remove in order to gain room to allow for the deck. Chair Smith stated that no letters accompanied the packets. Germundsen pointed out that letters fiom neighbors on both sides of his home t^ere submitted with the original packet. He indicated that he would supply staff with nt m copies of those letters, as provided to the previous plaimer. Berg questioned the bump-out on the lakeside, as it did not exist on original plans. Germundsen stated that he purchased the house with the plans and that a window was present on tiie plans. Waataja indicated that the bump-out was not approved; whereas, a window was granted approval. Rahn questioned whether driveway removals could be made to allow for the deck. Germundsen stated that he could reach 40% with driveway removals. While staff could live with the fact that the retaining walls were necessary to control drainage and that the second story bump-out appeared during construction, Gaffron stated that staff could not support the addition of a 12'X 12’ deck above the other approvals. Fritzlcr stated that the lot, in his opinion, had been maxed out. Chair Smith was hesitant to endorse further driveway removals given the safety needed to maneuver onto Highwood Road. Hawn felt granting approval for the application would set a poor precedent going against the 2001 Resolution. PAGE 13 of 37 I