08-20-2001 Planning Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

MINUTES OF THE ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING Monday, July 16,2001 (#01-2691 J. Eric and Christine Menge, Continued) that their bedroom would be in close proximity to the proposed garage. Stoddard asked what the distance would be. Berg responded it would be approximately 37'. John Blumentritt and Craig Johnson, architects for the project, presented a computerized demonstration of the proposal. The demonstration presented the location of the existing house and the neighbor’s home, conversion of the existing one-car garage to living space, trees and shrubs on the property, 450 s.f. of additional living space, and a two-car garage addition. Blumentritt explained that he had been working with Menges on a plan that would address the garage addition and proximity to the neighbor. The face of the neighbor’s house is 6' closer to the road than the Menges, with an additional 6* of entryxvay. With the footprint of the existing home at 24' x 24'. they looked at various ways to increase space. By angling the garage, an area was created that would facilitate maintenance equipment in the garage. TItcy also looked at placing the garage so it would face the neighbor to the north. This would have minimized the distance of the garage to the neighbor, but places the driveway along the property line. Slope conditions would also require fill and retaining walls. An angled garage would change the view of the addition for the neighbor to a point of the garage rather than the whole face, minimizing privacy issues. The angled garage also minimizes the amount of driveway and grading required. Blumentritt also commented on the possibility of another bedroom in the basement. He recommended against this idea, noting that a master bedroom addition was being considered for some future time as a second floor. Under the garage, a studio area is planned to be used for hobbies. If the Menges can afl'ord to put a room under the porch, it w ill be a recreation area w ith a pool table. Mabusth asked where the future master bedroom would be. Blumentritt responded that it would be everything to the right of the gable on the entry roof, w hich would be over the main portion of the existing structure. Mabusth commented that the septic capacity was of major concern with the possibility of an additional bedroom. Blumentritt confirmed there would be a second septic site available for a mound sy stem. Hawn questioned the need for primary and alternate septic sites. Weinberger responded that the City asks for two sites, but added that the City will accept a letter from w hoever does the testing to ensure that a potential future site isn’t lost by the addition. Blumentritt noted that if the garage addition were put on the other side of the house, the w alkout lower level would necessitate importing approximately 8' of elevation. In addition, the bedroom windows below would be blocked. Blumentritt reviewed the hardships for the variance application including the fact that a one car garage is not the norm and the difficult site conditions. The proposed design will be able to save some mature trees and buffer the garage doors from neighbor. Berg inquired about the room in the back beneath the deck. Johnson explained that it was proposed and would be included if the budget figures would allow the additional construction. PAGE 4