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/V <br />TO; CITY OF ORONO <br />SUBJECT: AMMENDED VARIANCE REQUEST <br />N <br />« <br />- / <br />£ - <br />ON DECEMBER 12TH, 1994 WE WERE GRANTED A VARIANCE TO ADD A <br />SECOND STORY DIRECTLY ABOVE OUR EXISTING SINGLE STORY HOME. <br />IN JANUARY I CALLED FOUR REMODELING CONTRACTORS TO COME TO OUR <br />HOUSE FOR AN INITIAL MEETING TO DISCUSS OUR PLAN. THERE WAS A <br />GENERAL CONSENSUS AFTER EVALUATING OUR SITUATION. THE BUILDERS <br />FELT THAT THE WORK COULD BE DONE, HOWEVER THE INVESTMENT IN A <br />HOUSE THAT WAS BUILT IN 1955, HAS 1000 S.F. AND IS ONLY 20 FEET WIDE <br />MAY NOT BE PRUDENT CONSIDERING WHAT HAD TO BE DONE. WE WERE TOLD <br />THAT THE FOUNDATION WAS ONLY 32" BELOW GRADE, THE EXISTING ROOF <br />WOULD COME OFF AND A NEW STAIR CASE AND SECOND FLOOR ADDED. <br />NEW WINDOWS WERE RECOMMENDED TO MATCH UPPER WINDOWS AND <br />PROVIDE BETTER INSULATION AND MAINTENANCE. ALSO A NEW FURNACE, <br />WATER HEATER, EXTERIOR SIDING. AND CARPET WERE DISCUSSED. WE ALSO <br />HAD TO OPEN UP SOME WALLS TO RUN PLUMBING, ELECTRICAL AND HEAT <br />DUCTS TO THE SECOND LEVEL. TO FINISH THE PROJECT WE THOUGHT IT WAS <br />ABOUT TIME TO GET RID OF THE ORANGE FORMICA COUNTERTOPS AND DARK <br />WOODGRAIN VINYL FLOORING IN THE KITCHEN AND THE OLD TILE IN THE <br />BATHROOM. ONE CONTRACTOR EVEN CAME UP WITH THE IDEA OF BRINGING <br />THE MAIN ENTRANCE THROUGH THE SIDE OF THE HOUSE SO YOU DID NOT <br />HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE KITCHEN TO GET ANYWHERE! ”IF I WERE YOU I <br />WOULD TEAR IT DOWN AND START OVER BECAUSE THERE WILL BE VERY <br />LITTLE LEFT NEW WHEN WE ARE DONE ANYWAY AND WONT COST MUCH MORE" <br />THIS WAS A COMMON COMMENT. THEY DID LOVE THE LOCATION HOWEVER. <br />IF THE GUY FROM "THIS OLD HOUSE" NEEDED A GOOD PROJECT WITH <br />EVERYTHING THIS WOULD BE PERFECT! <br />WE SPENT THE NEXT TWO MONTHS LAYING OUT A NEW FLOORPLAN AND <br />FOUND HOW NICE IT WAS TO HAVE 30’ TO WORK WITH RATHER THAN 20*. <br />AFTER THE MODEL HOME SHOW, PARADE OF HOMES, OPEN HOUSES AND <br />DRIVING THROUGH NEWER DEVELOPMENTS WE FEEL VERY GOOD ABOUT THE <br />DESIGN AND HOW IT CONFORMS TO THE CITY CODES. PLEASE REVIEW THE <br />LETTER FROM OUR ORIGINAL APPLICATION AND THE FINDINGS OF THE <br />PLANNING COMMISSION FOR THE FIRST APPLICATION AND HOW THEY RELATE <br />TO THIS VARIANCE REQUEST. ALSO ENCLOSED IS A COPY OF OUR EXISTING <br />LAYOUT FOR REFERENCE. <br />THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION IN THIS MATTER. <br />TOM, MAUREEN, MATTHEW AND KELLY