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MINUTES OF THE <br />ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION <br />January 17, 2023 <br />6:00 o'clock p.m. <br />Libby said the commission has discussed this a couple times before and asked if there was something <br />new, added or different from when this was discussed before. <br />Curtis said the previous application was a subdivision request to create an additional lot. That is no longer <br />the proposal. <br />Chair McCutcheon opened the public hearing at 6:47 p.m. There were no public comments. <br />Chair McCutcheon closed the public hearing at 6:47 p.m. <br />Ressler said he remembers the previous request that would have created three lots. This is just re -drawing <br />lot lines to make them two buildable and usable lots. For that reason, I'd be supportive as staff <br />recommends. <br />Erickson said he likes this solution. The new arrangement is clean and rectangular, not a gerrymandered <br />thing. And also, they're a little more balanced in size than the existing. It respects the character of the <br />neighborhood. I'm very favorably impressed with this application. <br />Libby pointed out that the city doesn't typically support new lots that are non -conforming. <br />Ressler agreed with that but said we're not creating a new lot, we are doing a lot line rearrangement of <br />two lots and making two lots. You're generally going to be creating two of the largest lots in that <br />neighborhood where few of the lots are two acres so it meets the merits of what is proposed here. <br />If it was a subdivision, I'd be opposed. If it was trying to create another lot that I would be opposed. But <br />we're not doing a split here. It's a lot line rearrangements. So for that reason, I'm in support. <br />Ressler confirmed the second vacant lot would be buildable. <br />Libby suggested asking the applicant to comment on their future intent and what their plans might be. <br />Hillier said they own the 1224 house and tore it down and built a new one in 2015. In 2018 they had the <br />opportunity to buy the other lot next door. We don't know what we're going to do in the future yet. When <br />we built the house in 2015 because of the structural coverage and hardcover we actually had to scale the <br />house back from what we wanted to do. We wanted to have a first floor master. We want to have some <br />other things like a patio on the south side of the property off the dining room. The planning group said no, <br />so we shrunk it down, stacked it up put everything upstairs to meet the requirements. We're kind of <br />restricted with the lot being as small as it is. We want to put a patio on the south side off the dining room <br />and hardcover wouldn't meet it. We want to have a shed in the backyard because right now we store our <br />lawnmower and stuff outside covered with a tarp. <br />Ressler moved, Libby seconded, to approve LA22-000071, 1224 Briar Street and 1245 Arbor Street <br />Variances as applied. VOTE: Ayes: 4, Nays 0. <br />NEW BUSINESS <br />Page 7 of 13 <br />