08-19-1996 Planning Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

AUG 1 5 * August 12, 1996 To; The Orono City Council and The Planning: Commission Mike Gaftron, Asst Planning &. Zoning Administrator From: Larry and Sharon Gehl Dear Council and Commission Members: My husband and 1 purchased a home on Lake Minnetotika at 1825 Concordia Street two years ago. The main portion of our home comes right up to the 75 foot setback from the lake, but there is an existing porch and a small wooden deck area which extend closer to the lake. We are currently remodeling the home and would like to have some additional deck on the lakeside of the house. Because of your setback requirements, w e knew it would be H^fTicult to get approval to increase the size of our w ooden deck. Instead of doing that. We have requested permission to flatten the roof of our existing porch and make a sundeck with a railing above the porch. This would allow us more lakeshore exposure without increasing ground cover. Our neighbors on both sides of our property have written letters stating their approval of our proposed sundeck. Because of positioning of their homes in respect to ours and trees between our property, they are unable to see this area from their homes and would not be adversely affected by this change in our home. We are aw are of your desire to reduce the amount of hardcover close to the lake. Since we purchased our home, we have taken some steps to accomplish this. We have removed a concrete w alkway w hich went from the lake to approximately 150 feet back on the south side of our lot and replaced that w ith sod and flowers. We have also removed 50 - 60% of the plastic from landscaped areas around our house. We hope you w ill grant the variance which will allow’ us to build our proposed sundeck above our porch. We feel it will enhance both the appearanc ; and the functioning of our property w ithout adding to the amount of hardcover near the lake. Thank ’ ou for your consideration of this matter. Larr>' and Sharon Gehl