01-23-2023 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING January 9, 2023 6:00 o’clock p.m. _____________________________________________________________________________________ Page 7 of 10 Johnson said the time is coming when there will be a lot more information to share. We’re just short of that. We’re doing an assessment. Long Lake has got to make a decision, whatever it is. When those two things come together there will be a lot to talk about. Kim Carswell, 261 Cygnet Place, said she feels like every time she comes to a meeting this is on the agenda so maybe it would behoove the City to have a separate meeting to put it all together. Seals moved, Crosby seconded to approve the fire ladder truck refurbishing and equipping. VOTE: Ayes 4, Nays 1 (Benson). COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT REPORT 20. LA22-000055, ESKUCHE DESIGN O/B/O TRAVIS & SARA WILDENBERG, 3838 CHERRY AVENUE, VARIANCES Staff presented a summary packet of information. New owners are requesting variances to conduct a major home addition. City Planner Curtis explained the current home on the site is situated 20 feet from the high-water level of the lake almost entirely within the 75-foot setback. The project would require a 75-foot lake setback, average lakeshore and hardcover variances. Initially the plan included two small footprint additions and a second story proposed to extend all the way to the foundation of the lake side of the home. Staff recommended denial. The planning commission, at its November meeting, conducted a public hearing and voted 3 to 1 to recommend denial of the application. After the meeting the applicant removed the footprint expansion in the 75 foot setback and pulled the second story addition back 12 feet from the lake. The footprint for hardcover was increased on the street side to make up for the reduction on the lake side. Staff has changed its recommendation to approval on the revised plan, which still reduces hardcover 275 square feet. Sara Wildenberg, currently at 1421 North Arm Drive, the applicant, said they had been looking at lake property for a long time, noticed this one had been vacant about five years and contacted the previous owner and purchased it. She said she and her husband love the design of the house but it is not laid out for a family at all. The Planning Commission in November gave them a lot of good feedback, she added. The proposed addition would be stairs to get to the upper level that will extend over the garage. The area is hardcover right now. Sven Gustafson with Stonewood Renovations explained there were a few other removals lakeside including a planter wall near the lake and a patio and the second level was pulled back 12 feet which does change the impact from the lake quite a bit. Council Member Johnson stated this was a good example of the planning commission making recommendations that improved the plan. He said he was comfortable with the revised plan. Johnson moved, Seals seconded, to ask the staff draft a resolution to approve LA22-000055, Eskuche Design O/B/O Travis & Sara Wildenberg, 3838 Cherry Avenue, Variances VOTE: Ayes 5, Nays 0.