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Paj'fegb <br />March 31, 1997 4-/2? hi <br />Hardship/Description of Unusual Property Conditions <br />Currently our stairs at 27 inches wide (from finished wall to finished wall) are 9 inches <br />narrower than current building codes. This situation presents a serious safety problem <br />when a minimum of a 3 inch railing is added. <br />Our kitchen is a galley style kitchen which serves as an entrance hall (31 inches wide) <br />between the front door and the living room. We would like to increase the size of this <br />narrow corridor. It presents constant problems while cooking and can be dangerous <br />with too many people in the kitchen. <br />We have investigated the possibility of expanding the stairs and the kitchen by moving <br />the wall that bounds them, but have found it to be a load-bearing wall. The only other <br />option is to expand by 2 1/2 feet on the north side of the house. <br />We are also requesting a variance to replace the front porch, which does not currently <br />meet Orono building code. The building code states that stairs cannot be over 8 inches <br />in height, and cannot vary by more than 3/16 of an inch. Currently, our steps measure <br />(in ascending order) 3 inches, 7 inches, 7 i- M'es, 9 inches and 4 inches. In addition to <br />correcting the stair construction, the porch needs to be widened to cover the concrete <br />slab at the bottom of the stairs. This slab is in place to divert water from the basement. <br />The porch would also be expanded on either side, to allow adequate access to the front <br />door. <br />C <br />4