08-15-1994 Planning Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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r “1 C^.* I McDonald iHomes Inc. I) 1^ s I (. N » K ' • u I lints'* Jean Mabu5(h City of Orono 2750 Kelley Parkway PO Box SI5 Orono. NliniKsota 55556-0815 Julv IS. 1994 Jean I am writing to request placement on the agenda of the August 22. 1994 Orono City Council Meeting. As you know a variance was issued to Christine Freeman back in February 1994. which was contingent on a spring hardcover inspection. The spring inspection revealed a gravel "Driveway", which exceeded Orom> hardcover requirements. r u I would like to request an amended vanance from the City Council and Planning Commissi»>n for the following rexsons; .... l i • Because there is little parking area in the driveway, the gravel provides a safe area for guests to park to keep their cars off the street. Overnight guests occasionally park on the gravel since there is little nxim elsewhere. The road curves quite a bit in this area, and it seems reasonable to keep cars off the street as much as possible. Any large utility vehicle will hang out into the street if parked in the space in front of the garage dixir. and this gravel area prov ides safer off street parking if necessary . The homeowner had to replace her garage door recently due to a boat falling off its trailer and sliding into it. Frankly. Ms. Freeman i.s concerned that a similar incident might occur while there is a car parked in front of the garage. • Because of the steep slope from the street to yard level, replacing the gravel w ith grxss or other landscaping would make it impossible to access the yard. The driveway provides access to serv ice vehicles that occasionally need to access the yard and house. Since the distance from the street is so great, it is common for mechanical contractors to have closer access to the house. • Another factor that must be considered is the area it.self. The driveway is surrounded and overhung w ith large shade trees, which do not provide adequate natural light. Growing grxss on a shaded, north facing slope would be very difficult and prone to erosion. 1 realise the concern that the City ha.s of the runoff raintall reaching the lake, but I believe that the water which does not soak through the gravel would be absorbed by the flat grass area at the b*>ttom of the slope. • This situation is a common one in the surrounding homesites. Many of the homes have paved or crushed riKk driveways going from the street down to the house. In this case, the gravel stops about 20 feet to the rear of the garage, instead of continuing down to the house. 1 believe that these reasons show that there is sufficient rea.son to grant an amended variance in this situation, and that by granting a v ariance there w ill be no negative impact to the lake. I you have any questions or comments, please call me at 455-5142. Sincerely. Blake Stranz. Remodeling Manager McDonald Homes Inc. t()20 5cvcnty Fifth Street fast liner (trove Heights. .Minnesota 550 0 (tl2 isv.XI »2 • I .W (»I2 iSS