09-18-2023 Planning Commission Packet

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION August 21, 2023 6:00 o'clock p.m. Chair Bollis opened the public hearing at 6:48 p.m. There were no public comments. Chair Bollis closed the public hearing at 6:48 p.m. McCutcheon said this application is pretty conservative and Minnesota winters get tough as people get older. Ressler said he had nothing else to add. Erickson said he is in favor. Erickson moved, McCutcheon seconded, to approve LA23-000038, 1920 Concordia St. Variances. VOTE: Ayes: 5, Nays 0. 5. LA23-000039 EUGENE DOBKIN, 1380 REST POINT ROAD, REQUESTS VARIANCES FROM LOT SIZE, LOT WIDTH, HARDCOVER, AND REAR YARD SETBACK FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW HOME. City Planner Nye gave a presentation on the item, stating that the lot size is substandard for the zoning district and the existing home is nonconforming and protrudes into the average lakeshore setback, rear yard setback, and has improvements within the 75 -foot lake setback. The property is also beyond the allowable hardcover. The applicant is proposing to demolish the existing one and a half story home and build a new two-story home on the property. The proposed home will be constructed further from the lake and will meet the required 75 -foot lake setback and comply with the average lakeshore setback as well. The proposed home will still have a rear yard setback of 28.1 feet where a 30 -foot setback is required. The project will reduce hardcover from 28.5 percent to 27.2 percent which will still require a variance. The applicant is proposing to keep the existing non -conforming shed/boathouse on the property. The existing driveway is also non -conforming but would stay and that is allowed. The overall project will require variances from lot area, lot width, hardcover, and rear -yard setback. The applicant has identified the property's substandard size, width and location of existing improvements as practical difficulties: Staff agrees with the applicant's assessment. The property is substandard in size and width. The proposal to demolish the existing home and build a new home that is setback further from the lake which meets the required 75 -foot setback and average lakeshore setback and reduces the hardcover has the support of staff. Eugene Dobkin, 1380 Rest Point Rd., said they have been working hard on the plan and that the house would not look noticeably different from the existing house from the outside and would have a similar footprint. Chair Bollis opened the public hearing at 6:53 p.m. David Wiemer, 1405 Rest Point Rd. said he has looked at the plans and they are in keeping with the neighborhood. His only concern was the ability of construction equipment to get in and out of the neighborhood since Rest Point Road is a very narrow road. He would ask the applicant, who is a neighbor, to work with the contractor on minimizing the impact of construction traffic. Otherwise, he said, it looks good. Page 5 of 8