06-20-2023 Planning Commission Packet

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION May 15, 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 Chris Bollis, Commissioners Mark McCutcheon, Dennis Libby, Jon Ressler, Bob Erickson, Scott Kirchner and Gary Kraemer. Representing Staff were Community Development Director Laura Oakden, City Planner Melanie Curtis, and City Planner Natalie Nye. Chair Bollis called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m., followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Libby moved, Kraemer seconded, to approve the Agenda. VOTE: Ayes 7, Nays 0. APPROVAL OF PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES OF APRIL 17, 2023 Kirchner moved, Ressler seconded, to approve the minutes of the Orono Planning Commission meeting of April 17, 2023. VOTE: Ayes 7, Nays 0. OLD BUSINESS 1. LA23-000017 MURPHY & CO. DESIGN, 746 TONKAWA ROAD, VARIANCES FOR HARDCOVER, DRIVEWAY WIDTH, AND REAR YARD SETBACK City Planner Nye said this item was tabled from the April 17 Planning Commission Meeting. The applicant wishes to build a new three -car garage near the street and demolish the existing garage which is non -conforming and served by a steep driveway. The proposed garage is 10 feet from the rear or street property line where 30 is required. Due to the proximity of the garage to the street, the driveway does not have the opportunity to taper down to the 20 -foot maximum width, she said, so the applicant is requesting a variance from the rear yard setback and also for driveway with to allow a 34 -foot wide driveway. The applicant is also requesting a variance to hardcover. The project would reduce hardcover from 35 to 32 percent but will still be over 25 percent so it requires a variance. The original plan removed a small portion of the shared driveway, Nye said, but the revised application restores the shared driveway to its original design. The neighbors are in favor of the new design. Dan Demeules with Murphy and CO Design, 235 Lake St. East, Wayzata, spoke as the applicant, explaining they met with the homeowner to the north and agreed to keeping the existing paving line for the shared driveway. The plan also removes a stair that used to be on the side to provide outside access and the owners will now be using a stair inside their garage to get to their lower level. Bollis said he remembers the Planning Commission were mostly in favor of this request at the last meeting except for the issue of the shared driveway. Kraemer said he was in favor before but it's good to get the neighbors on board and that there had been good communication by everyone. He called the revised plan a no-brainer. Kirchner said it looks like the difficulty from the previous meeting had been resolved and he had no issues with supporting the request. Page 1 of 5