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MINUTES OF THE ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION <br />MEETING HELD ON MARCH 16, 1998 <br />(#10) #2348 Mary Jane Hauser - Continued) <br />Hauser said he understood that his plan calls for a hardcover variance. Hauser said the <br />depression pond would give back to the property and treat runoft. He felt this could be a <br />viable option to allow the variance to be granted. Mabusth asked if Hauser has disr^ssed <br />the pond with the neighbors. Hauser said the neighbors were concerned with standing <br />water. The proposed pond will stop the runoff and immediately percolate resulting in no <br />standing water. Bressler noted that Staff supported the ponding as planed but reauired the <br />25% hardcover be met as well. <br />Hauser asked if the Commission would recommend hardcover at 27%. Hauser felt any <br />further reduction in hardcover would affect the neighborhood. <br />Bressler noted that the hardcover on the property to the north, which has an older <br />residence, is at 26.4% in the 75-250’ lakeshore setback. The house to the south was given <br />a credit for the swimmmg pool towards hardcover as pools were not considered hardcover <br />at the time it was built. Hardcover at that property is 27.1% in the 75-250’ lakeshore <br />setback. <br />Smith, while noting the excellent plan, felt it was incredulous that 4.8% of hardcover <br />could not be eliminated. She felt the proposal was new construction and there were no <br />hardships to allow the hardcover variance. <br />Mabusth agreed that the site plan was excellent but the hardcover was excessive. <br />Hauser asked if the Commission w’ould recommend any leniency to allow him to work <br />wdth staff. Berg said Planning Commission's directive is to meet the 25% allowable in <br />hardcover. <br />Hauser asked for an explanation of hardship which Berg supplied. Hauser said he has not <br />mentioned the economics of the proposal but felt he needed to indicate that the house size <br />was necessary to justify the expense of the lot. Smith agreed that the house was in <br />keeping with the neighborhood but recommended the 25% hardcover in the 75-250’ <br />setback. Hauser asked if the Commission would recommend a smaller variance. Berg <br />noted that the Commission is given guidelines in which to follow from the Council. <br />Stoddard suggested the possibility of 25% hardcover in the 75-250' setback and 30% <br />hardcover in the 250-500' setback with the applicant working with staff to meet these <br />guidelines prior to the Council review. Bressler said there would be no variance reejuired <br />with this suggestion.