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7/9/01 <br />Doug and Diane Merz <br />380 Turnham Road <br />Maple Plain. MN <br />Wendy Bottenberg <br />City of Orono <br />2750 Kelley Parkway <br />Dear Wendy: <br />Pursuant to our conversation tf^ afternoon, we would like to register our concerns with the City of <br />Orono's planning commission regarding land use issue 01-2691 by I. Eric and Christine Menge <br />requesting a variance at 340 Turnham road. We are the house immediately north of the Menges and their <br />request for a variance within 12 ft. of their north property line will affect us visually and aesthetically to a <br />greater degree than any of the other neighbors They currently have a one-car garage and approached us <br />last year about adding a second stall. We agreed to this requesting that the addition be slanted away from <br />us to minimize vehicle noise since their garage and driveway are close to our bedroom window. Two weeks <br />ago Eric brought me the plans for thetr current proposal and I was surprised to see it had grown to what he <br />desaibed as a two car garage addition with the current one car garage to be converted into living space. I <br />was even more surpnsed to get the heanng notice and see the addition described as a two and one-half <br />car garage. Our concerns are with the visual affect having another home withm 1 2ft. of the property Ime w# <br />have on our home and also the possible negative impact this variance and addition as currently proposed <br />might have on cur property value. We certainly have no concerns with their original plan, as explained to us <br />a year ago. to add a one-car space addition to their existing garage. We have scheduled time to meet with <br />the Menge's and hopefuBy will have this matter resolved before the hearing on luly 16^ bu* until then we <br />would Ike this letter to serve as formal notice of our concerns with the current variance and and use <br />application. <br />On a final note purchased cjr 1 a.nd three qijarter acre lot in Orono with an ntder home because we <br />highly value the country atmosphere and privacy Orono mahtains via its zoning taws. We do not want to be <br />difficult neighbors and understand the Menge's need for additional garage space. However, we cannot <br />support a 2 and one half car garage addition with a plan to convert the current garage to Uving space. The <br />Menge's do have more than adequate space on the other side of their house to add their living space. <br />Thank you for your time and attention to this matter. <br />Sincerely. <br />Diane Merz <br />'7|lO|Cl <br />1