08-18-2003 Planning Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING Monday. July 21.2003 6:00 o’clock p.m. (#6 W)3-2893 JOHN AND ROBERTA HENRICII, Coatfnucd) and house, and retaining usable parking area. As noted in May. GafTron staled that the house footprint uill increase from 1219 to 1635 s.f. Structural coverage including the garage, house ana shed will only be 8.3 ”o where 15”« is allowed. In addition, the re\ ised site plan has an alternate version that moves the house about 4* closer to the lake than proposed in May. Tliis proposal would allow for additional green space beUveen the house and the driveway. However, this also results in a 4 ’ eneroachment of the 30’ bluff setback, as the existing house is at a 32' bluff setback and the initial proposal just met the 30' requirement. Gaffron reported that the proposed hardcover in the 75*250' /one has been significantly reduced from the existing level of 6,180 s.f. or 37.1 •/, to 4,630 s.f. or 27.8 “/•. (28.2”/o if the bluff setback is not allowed, as deck will then not be reduced). The applicant included in his initial letter ol request a number of factors which he believes are hardships that support the variance request. These factors included the ability to park numerous vehicles off of Highwood Road which is very nanow and has only minimal ability for on-street p.irking. The revised site plan still accomplishes these goals at a much reduced level of hardcover. Staff believes the new plan is very reasonable given the stated hardships and the fact that the existing garage w ill remain on the site. Chair Smith thanked the applicants for their efforts to revise the plans and reduce hardcover dramatically. Mr. Henrich indicated how pleased and surprised he was that they were able to reduce the hardcover numbers so significantly. Although the hardships stilt exist and warrant the need for variances, the steepness of the slope, the existing structures, etc., he believed they had found mutually acceptable solutions. Chair Smith asked Gaffron whether the narrowness of Highwood Road could also be viewed as a hardship. Gaffron stated that Highwood is a substandard size road w hich allows for little, if any, street side parking. He indicated that it might be considered as having hardship characteristics for the whole neighborhood, whereas, the steepness does require e\ cr>lhing to be pushed back 30' from the top of the bluff. Chair Smith asked how the Cemmis'^ion might further reduce the hardcover to even closer to 25”/«. and suggested the deck size be reduced While he had no problem with the house, Rahn questioned whether they could lose hardco%’er from the 480 s.f. deck and 160 s.f. patio, and require the shed be removed. PAGE 3 of 37