07-17-2023 Planning Commission Packet

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION June 20, 2023 6:00 o'clock p.m. Sarah and Kevin Revering, 1960 Fox Ridge Road, the applicants, also pointed out that it is difficult to locate anything on the lot because of the wetland and septic culvert. They said they had spoken to all their neighbors and no one voiced any objection to the plan. Acting Chair Ressler opened the public hearing at 7:07 p.m. There were no public comments. Acting Chair Ressler closed the public hearing at 7:07p.m. The Commissioners discussed the item. Ressler said, again the problem was the building envelope and the positioning of the property, adding there doesn't seem to be anywhere else for this to go. Kraemer also said it looked like a good addition. Schultze said he appreciated the effort to go back as far as they could with the addition. Kraemer moved, Schultze seconded, to approve LA23-000024, 1960 Fox Ridge Road, request for front yard setback variance for an addition. VOTE: Ayes: 5, Nays 0. 5. LA23-000025 REVISION LLC, 165 CRISTOFORI CIRCLE, REQUESTS VARIANCES TO PERMIT AN OVERSIZED ACCESSORY BUILDING ON THE PROPERTY STREETWARD OF THE PRINCIPAL BUILDING. City Planner Curtis said the applicant is proposing to construct an accessory garage with a footprint of 1400 square feet in front of the home on the property. The building is considered to be an oversized accessory building or an OAB in the code. The applicant proposes to construct the garage 72 feet from the front property line. The home is situated 142 feet from the front property line, she said. It would meet the required principal building setback but an accessory structure cannot be an OAB, Curtis explained, so a variance is needed to construct the proposed garage that size in the current location. Staff finds viable alternatives for this project that would conform to the ordinances and not require variances. These include reducing the garage to 1,000 square feet or moving it further north on the property. Staff recommends denial of the application as applied. Peter Antonenko, 165 Christofori Circle, the applicant, explained why they chose that location for the garage. To the north behind the pad for the asphalt there is the existing septic, he said. Going to the west would have meant removing a lot of trees and bringing in dirt. To the south there is a geothermal field. The location selected requires the least amount of tree removal. The existing home does not have much storage in relation to the mechanical. The size of the garage was designed for extra storage for seasonal items and kids' seasonal sports equipment and bikes, he explained. The driveway configuration would make it difficult to park cars when the kids are old enough to drive in a few years. They said they only have three neighbors and they are in favor of the plan as it doesn't block anyone. John Daly, Revision LLC, Wayzata, said he worked with the applicant on the project. He said it is about a 2.5 acre site. The lot appears to be large but it is pushed back quite a ways from the street view and there is a large hill. There is still a significant amount of front yard. The home and the structure can't be seen from the street. He said he looked at the reason for ordinances such as the view and impact on the Page 5 of 8