02-21-2023 Planning Commission Packet

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION January 17, 2023 6:00 o'clock p.m. ROLL CALL The Orono Planning Commission met on the above-mentioned date with the following members present: Chair Mark McCutcheon, Commissioners Dennis Libby, Jon Ressler and Bob Erickson. Commissioners Matt Gettman, Scott Kirchner and Chris Bollis were absent. Representing Staff were Community Development Director Laura Oakden, City Planner Melanie Curtis, and City Planner Natalie Nye. Chair McCutcheon called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m., followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. 1:119 W:Z1]fl:11 WO WET" Ole 117.1 Libby moved, Ressler seconded, to approve the Agenda. VOTE: Ayes 4, Nays 0. APPROVAL OF PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES OF NOVEMBER 21, 2022 Erickson moved, Libby seconded, to approve the minutes of the Orono Planning Commission meeting of November 21, 2022 as corrected to show Commissioner Scott Kirchner was not present. VOTE: Ayes 4, Nays 0. PUBLIC HEARINGS 1. LA22-000065 LESLIE DARE, 2967 CASCO POINT ROAD, REQUESTS VARIANCES FROM THE ACCESSORY DWELLING UNIT PERFORMANCE STANDARDS. City Planner Curtis gave a presentation on the item, stating the applicants, along with their neighbors the Abbotts at 2941 Casco Point Road recently purchased the property situated between their lots at 2965 Casco Point Road. This middle property is formerly the Swenson property. The applicants hope to split the property and combine each portion with their lots. They also plan on keeping the existing home and detached garage on their respective halves of the property. She said the administrative boundary line adjustment can be completed by staff and recorded by the owner to combine and move the lot lines. The City Council approved hardcover variances facilitating this split and combination in November. The Abbotts will acquire the Swenson detached garage. The Oares will acquire the Swenson home. They wish to maintain the full functionality of the existing Swenson home to serve as an accessory dwelling unit under the ordinance that was adopted by the council in November. A minimum lot area of one acre is required in order to qualify. Once their lot combination is complete, the Oares' property will be about three quarters of an acre. The ADU performance standards require the principle building and ADU to share utilities. Because the Swenson home was a separate and independent property it is served separately. The Oares are requesting variances from the performance standards for the utility connections and lot area to permit this home to be used as an ADU on their property. The applicants have identified the existing conditions and the elimination of a separate non -conforming lot as practical difficulties supporting the variances. Staff finds the elimination of a non -conforming lot is a positive improvement from the lot size and average lakeshore setback perspectives, as well as the overall reduction of hardcover proposed between the three properties. Although the Swenson home is an existing condition, staff does not find practical difficulties exist which support the requested variances from the newly adopted regulations to permit an ADU. The applicants are legally able to use the Swenson home as an accessory building with plumbing, but not for dwelling overnight use. No comments from the public had been Page 1 of 13