Laserfiche WebLink
Re: 4423 North Shore Drive, Orono, MN 55364 <br />Eskuche Design Group Peter Eskuche, AIA 12 December 2023 Variance Application City Planner, Plan Commission and honorable Mayor and Ci ty Council Members. We appreciate your consideration for the variance reque st to permit a replacement home <br />at 4423 North Shore Drive. The variances requested are as follows: 1. Variance of 11.8’ to the average lakeshore setback. (less than current) 2. Grading variance within the bluff impact zone to the west to accommodate a <br />walkout basement and patio which the current home has. 3. Hardcover variance within the bluff impact zone (same as current) 4. Grading variance within the bluff impact zone to redu ce the pitch of the existing <br />driveway from a ~12.5% grade to a safer ~8% grade. The property is located on the east side of the Forest L ake access channel on West Arm. It <br />is a steeply sloped lot, with bluffs (as defined by t he zoning ordinance) to the south <br />towards the lake, and to the west and north-west toward s the channel. Application of <br />applicable average lakeshore and bluff impact zones on this property, creates an oddly <br />triangular-shaped buildable space representing only 10.4% of the lot. This configuration <br />presents a practical difficulty, compelling us to met iculously develop a proposal that most <br />closely aligns with the city's planning guidelines. The existing home is non-conforming as it encroaches int o the bluff impact zones and <br />average lakeshore setbacks in multiple places both for structure and hardcover. The <br />existing structure encroaches as much as 12.3’ into the bluff impact zone. The existing <br />driveway and various pavers have a total of 1,092 squa re feet encroaching into the bluff <br />impact zone. The proposed structure, however, addresse s these concerns by not <br />encroaching into the bluff setback. Notably, the proposed driveway, shared with the adjacent property owner, remains within the existing square footage of encroachment, <br />presenting a reasonable bluff impact proposal. There is no adjacent home to the west as the channel t o Forest Lake forms the entire <br />western boundary of the property. The current adjacen t home to the east, built in 2011, <br />sits 107.6’ from the ordinary high water. According to zoning code, this creates the average <br />lakeshore setback on this property of 107.6’. The propos ed home aligns closely with this <br />setback, encroaching slightly less than the existing structure, with both patios conforming <br />to setback regulations. We have secured the support of the neighboring property owner to <br />the east, ensuring a positive impact on the riparian view shed. This is a reasonable setback <br />encroachment proposal. The current home has a walk-out lower level to the wes t. The proposed home matches the <br />location of the current walk-out very closely, in fact, the walk-out area is narrower than <br />102