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kl <br />K'-i <br />h <br />»•>! <br /># 2 2! <br />Hardship Description for 1399 Park Drive - Garage Addition <br />1) The existing garage did not pass inspection by a professional home inspector and was documented to be <br />structUTdlly unstable. As such it is unsafe, it is an insurance risk and it negatively impacts the visual <br />appearance of the neighborti <br />2) As new owner, wo intend on removing and replacing the existing garage with a three car garage that is <br />styled to match the home. <br />3) The front walk between the garage and home is currently a series of rectangular platform decks with <br />landscaping and lighting. As a demonstration of our willingness to comply with hardcover requirements, <br />this deck style front walk will be removed and be replaced with a 4 ’ concrete sidewalk to make available <br />sufBcient hard cover capacity for the garage. <br />4) With the removal of the original garage and the addition of the hard cover that is made available by <br />removmg the deck style front walk, there is sufficient hardcover capacity to allow construction of the three <br />car garage, in compliance with City of Orono hardcover restrictions. <br />S) Unfortunately, to comply with the hardcover requirements, the garage must be oriented such that one <br />4 ’ diameter (150+ ft tall) oak tree must be removed This oak tree is one of the largest trees on the lot and <br />is healthy and growing. In addition, at least six smaller trees (4 to 8 inch diameter) must be removed. <br />6) There are two utility pole anchor/tension cables that are anchored in the area that would become the <br />driveway, if variances were denied. This utility pole provide.® NSP electricity, Tri-Ax cable tv and GTE <br />telephone services to the neighborhood. In addition, NSP has located a high voltage transformer on this <br />utility pole. These anchors are secured within the lot borders as specified by the legal description of 1399 <br />Park Efrive. <br />7) There is no other place on the lot to locate the garage without further exceeding hardcover requirements <br />due to the steep slope of the property on the south side of the yard. <br />8) The proposed garage addition will also include a retaining wall on the north side of the property to <br />prevent further soil erosion and root exposure of trees on the adjacent property. <br />9) We are requesting these variances so that we can position the garage in a manner that does not require <br />killing and removal of this magnificent oak tree and the smaller adjacent trees. This variance request is our <br />attempt to save the mature trees on the street side of the lot. This lot has already lost two trees to storm <br />damage during the recent storms and the mature trees provide the character of the lot and nicely frame the <br />home on the property.