Laserfiche WebLink
JJ.t: <br />77 <br />HARDSHIP/DESCRIPTION OF UNUSUAL PROPERTY CONDITIONS <br />This property has been an exception from the start. The <br />lot is large, but it is a peninsula. 94% of the lot area is <br />within the 0-75’ zone. The lot is well hidden from all adjacent <br />property owners and the proposed construction will be built into <br />the side of a hill making it invisible to any adjacent property <br />owners. The difficulties of this property have been recognized <br />previously by the city and a copy of a 1986 variance is attached <br />detailing many of them. In spite of the fact that the city has <br />previously granted this variance when it required 5641 square <br />feet of hardcover in the 0-75 zone, we have worked with the city <br />to bring the current figure down to 4557 square feet. This <br />variance request will raise the hardcover to only 4927 square <br />feet by taking out driveway space. <br />The original home and this proposed addition were both <br />designed by the nationally recognized architect, John Howe, in <br />the Prairie School. The addition will tie gracefully into the <br />present home and landscape and create an important architectural <br />site within Orono. The home is on one of the largest lots in its <br />neighborhood yet is one of the smallest houses in terms of square <br />footage. In addition, the house has no basement and thus has only <br />limited storage area. The conversion of the two car garage to <br />living space and addition of a ? to 3 car garage will still leave <br />the house small relative to its comparaole neighbors. We believe <br />the allowance of the use of our lot as a homesite originally <br />recognized the lot's peculiarity and the city’s desire to allow <br />some flexibility in its use due to the hardship imposed. We <br />appreciate t.iis effort by the city. <br />0