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3.The Orono Planning Commission reviewed this application on October 15.200 1 and <br />November 19. 2001 and recommended approval of variances by a vote of 7 to 0. <br />The Planning Commission made the following findings of fact: <br />_ iiiiiiiiiUii <br />Accessory buildings under 750 s.f. are permitted to be located 10' from the <br />rear and north side property line. Since the applicant's property is a comer <br />lot the required setback to each street property tine is SO'. <br />The garage would be constructed with the access doors facing the <br />Minnetonka Avenue property line. The proposed design would be consistent <br />with the current development pattern of other properties located along <br />Minnetonka Avenue. <br />Tlie proposed garage would be 28' X 24' and would have the doors facing the <br />street to allow backing out to Minnetonka Avenue rather than having to back <br />out to the e.xisting parking area. Across Minnetonka Avenue are two <br />detached garages that ore built on the lots with direct access to the street. The <br />closest garage, across the street is 12.5' from the paved surface of Minnetonka <br />Avenue. A second garage is located 25' from the paved surface of the street. <br />'Hte proposed garage would be located 22.5' from the paved surface. <br />The applicants have stated their hardship is the garage could not be moved <br />further to the north due to a large pine tree being located behind the garage <br />that they would like to keep on the property. Staff has measured the tree and <br />confirmed it has a trunk diameter of appro.ximately 16" and has a 30' diameter <br />drip line. The tree is located 12' from the back wall of the e.xisting garage. <br />Nearly all garages built in the Crystal Day neighborhood on comer lots have <br />the garage with direct access, including the two lots acro.ss the street. One <br />problem with the direct access is the fact the garages have very short <br />driveways which do not accommodate olTstreet parking very v\ell. Adequate <br />off street parking is not always available and Minnetonka Av enue is a nani>w <br />road only paved 15' wide. <br />Page 2 of 6