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MINUTES OF THE <br />ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING <br />Monday, September 14, 2015 <br />7:00 o’clock p.m. <br />_____________________________________________________________________________________ <br /> <br />Page 25 of 39 <br /> <br /> 11. #15-3772 ROBERT MILLER, 60 SMITH AVENUE, VARIANCES – RESOLULTION NO. <br />6539 (continued) <br /> <br />Planning Staff recommends approval of the setback variances. It should be noted that the left side setback <br />is not decreasing. The front setback is only minimally changing due to shifting of the entryway. The <br />right side setback to the new attached garage, while moving forward from the existing detached garage, is <br />set back from the adjoining residence approximately the same distance as the existing detached garage <br />due to the angling of the homes relative to the side lot line. <br /> <br />Staff would also note that the existing vegetative screening along the left side exists almost entirely within <br />the neighboring property at 40 Smith. Gaffron stated requiring the applicant to provide additional <br />screening to visually buffer a second story that is no closer than the existing first story is not a common <br />request and Staff would ask the Council to consider whether there are really any negative visual impacts <br />to that adjoining neighbor. <br /> <br />On the east boundary, a row of existing bushes provides screening to the adjoining neighbor at 80 Smith <br />from the proposed attached garage location. These bushes appear to be on applicant’s property. To the <br />extent that these bushes can be saved during construction, Staff questions the need for additional <br />screening. If the bushes are destroyed during construction, then equivalent screening should be replaced. <br /> <br />Staff has drafted an approval resolution that requires replacement of any existing vegetative screening that <br />is damaged or destroyed during construction. This condition can easily be modified at the discretion of <br />Council. <br /> <br />Mayor McMillan opened the public hearing at 9:25 p.m. <br /> <br />TJ Bonnett, 40 Smith Avenue, stated they do not have any problem with the actual plan itself but that in <br />their view it should be built on a 2-acre property. Bonnett stated they feel the proposed project will <br />impose on them and cause them to lose their privacy. Bonnett stated they would request the City Council <br />look at other options for the project. <br /> <br />Mrs. Bonnett stated all the variances being requested is the issue rather than one single variance. <br /> <br />Walsh asked what they see as the biggest issues with the variances. <br /> <br />TJ Bonnett stated the main issue is the fact that there will now be a second story. Bonnett stated they <br />have a small view of a dormer and that they will have a view of a second story after this project is <br />completed. <br /> <br />Bonnett displayed a picture of another residence with a second story next to a one-level home. Bonnett <br />stated that is basically what is being proposed in this case and that the home will be made quite a bit <br />larger. Bonnett asked if the home would be 10 or 13 feet higher. <br /> <br />Gaffron indicated he has not looked into that. Gaffron stated the home does meet the City’s height <br />requirements. <br /> <br />Walsh asked if the second story would be next to the garage.