03-16-2003 Planning Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

MINUTES OF THE ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING Monday. May 19.2003 6:00 o’clock pjn. (Ml 1 #03-2901 DENALI CUSTOM HOMES, INC. ON BEHALF OF MELINDA LEE AND THOMAS DEVEAU, Coaliaaed) Mr. Beiker staled that the applicant’s hardship lied in the narrowness of the lot. steep grade, and rough terrain. After consulting Planner Bottenberg. Bicker stated that they made numerous changes to minimize the plans and pull the home back 20' to minimize driveway hardcover. He stated that they had made attempts to redesign the driveway, to make it an end loading garage, and still fell short 170 s.f Bicker pointed out that the hardcover would be reduced from 40®/o to 29% with the current plan. Finally, he stated that he w’as confident they could resolve the drainage issues. Mr. DeVeau stated that they had outgrown the home years ago, and contemplated remodeling; however, they decided to build a new home since the costs would be similar. Mary Torkclson, 670 Tonkawa Road, voiced she and her husband’s support for the new- home. She felt ^e proposed residence would be a good addition to the neighborhood. She noted that the new home built next door to the DeVeau’s current residence severely impacted the DeVeau’s view-s of the lake. Bicker pointed out that the retaining w-alls could not be removed and serve a real purpose. Based on the fact that the lot was undersized. Chair Smith stated that she did not have much problem with the application. She asked the applicants to provide the City Engineer with the appropriate drainage information. She encouraged the applicants to squeeze llic hardcover down closer to 25%. Hawn asked whether they could move the excess hardcover out of the 250’ setback zone. GafTron indicated that pulling the structure back 15' would not help reduce the hardcover by any significant amount and would adversely affect the home's views. He stated that even if he putted the home back to gain 150 s.f and turned the garage to be end loading, which would gain 200 s.f, they would not be much closer to 25% hardcover. Mabusth indicated that the hardcover for these narrow lots w ould explain why most of the homes have detached garages at the top of their properties along this stretch. Wliile they could probably build a detached garage. GafTron staled that they would have a considerably long walk to the house. He maintained that the applicants could lose little in the 0-75’ setback, since the retaining walls, steps, and landings were ncccssar)*. Chair Smith noted that the Commission would be hard pressed not to get closer to 25%. Hawn asked whether they could consider the fact that the applicant’s views would be severely limited if they were forced to pull the home back even further, especially after the PAGE 35 of 39