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MINUTES OF THE <br />ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING <br />Wednesday, January 22,2003 <br />6:30 o'clock p.m. <br />(»02-2a6l ERIK THOMPSON. Continued) <br />Rahn agreed, encouraging the applicant to consider new construction altogether. As indicated by Uie <br />applicant earlier this evening, it may have been cheaper iti the long run to have started over than try to <br />remodel. Rahn feared this may the case m this situation as vsell. <br />Thompson reiterated that he has gone to great lengths to examine his property to prepare for the remodel <br />by allowing many experu to view his home and make recommendations He asked the C'ommissum to <br />throw him some guidelines to work within and suted that he had heard the discussion earlier making <br />refercrure to the ‘gray /one’ of new construction versus rcbu>l<' <br />Hawn suted that, w ith new construction, he would be back to the I5^« structur/ lot coverage requiremeni <br />he IS currently faced w nh. <br />Chair Smith agreed that, as staled earlier by Gaffron. this application ’looks and feels’ like more than was <br />ever envisioned and asked for further suiT comment. <br />Gafiron suied that, the characteristics of an addition versus teanng everyihmg dow n to the cap. all of a <br />sudden sounds like well over the 50"/o the Commission had discussed in the pas! as the threshold for new <br />construction. Originally, he had envisioned a first floor, with a second floor that would be tom off and <br />replaced, as well as minor additions. Gaffron indicated that, now from what he heard, all that w ill be lefl <br />IS the den area and everyihmg else tom down to the cap. At this point, the questions anse. with over 5(>“» <br />removal, do you have them move the home or remove the foundation that still has value (iallrnn felt <br />these questions remain <br />Thompson argued that much of the first floor, including the bedroom and den. and its supporting walls, <br />basement, and foundation would remain, therefore, this is not new construction, nor would new <br />construction work in this neighborhood. <br />Ga!;ron asked if the caps they referred to were those between the basement and first floor <br />Thompson indicated that they are ulking about ceruin w^Ils. which would need major reconstruction <br />with f- • additions, whereas the floor panels would remain the same on the first floor. He pointed out that <br />M»nie of the walls are in need of repair currently, or would come down anyway, if he were required to <br />merei. shore them up that could be done also. Thompson maintained that more of the house is being left <br />alone than they’ve been led to believe this evening, and financially remodeling is his best option <br />Chair Smith asked whether the application should be tabled for a month to alh*w ihe applicant time to <br />consult with and assure staff that this is a remodel versus a rebuild <br />Gaffion felt this was unnecessary , he was not convinced they could be ceriain until the applicant got into <br />the project whether it would remain a remodel or become more Similar projects have become more once <br />applicants have gotten into them and GatTron indicated that he would rather know that the Planning <br />Commission is comfortable w iih the fact that, if it gets to the point where they discover it is more, they <br />can continue on. On the other hand, if they get to the point that all is left is a f* 'undation and a cap. <br />Gaffron questioned whether the Commission would want to revisit the application at that point versus <br />dealing w ith It now. <br />PAGE 21 of 29