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■v. <br />!. <br />[■ <br />Hardcover Policy <br />February 21, 1991 <br />Page 2 of 3 <br />Through the degree of attention to hardcover by <br />City Councils hM increased appreciably, leading to the need for <br />hardcpif^r WorKsheets and detailed surveys of hardcover in <br />virtually^ eys^Mk^uiIding permit application. Since 1975, <br />sinne^er variance requests have been reviewed. Thehundr^Pl oi0 <br />shee*r nunber of past variances granted has allowed (or forced) <br />the variance review process to evolve into a negotiation process, <br />since new applicants expect to be given the same consideration as <br />their neighbors have been granted in the past. Of course, this <br />■akt it harder for the Council to maintain an objectivity about <br />whetner a "hardship ” exists. <br />It is a reasonable conclusion that in the 0-75' zone, non- <br />structural hardcover which has been placed without oermits since <br />1975, should be removed because it is not legal. <br />Administratively, it may be very hard to determine the origin <br />date of an item of hardcover. Remember also that when the hard ­ <br />cover ordinance was written, no provision was included for the <br />gradual removal of pre-existing hardcover in the 0-75' zone. <br />Perhaps the final question to mull over is, what is the <br />City's hardcover goal for the future? Past Councils have made <br />little headway in gradually removing hardcover from the 0-75* <br />sone, in staff's opinion. It has been a battle just holding to <br />the existing conditions. Every time a structure or an addition <br />in the 0-75' zone is approved, that action prolongs the <br />permanence of that hardcover. If the Council's goal is to <br />eventually remove all hardcover from the 0-75' zone, then no <br />additions, decks, or other 0-75* hardcover should be approved <br />unless there 1s absolutely no other option for use of the <br />property. There will obviously, be times when a variance must be <br />granted. <br />Now, balance a strict hardcover policy vs. the technical <br />realities. Many sources document the fact that once "point <br />source discharges" (sewer plants, factory discharges, etc.) are <br />eliminated, the greatest detriment to our lake is the urban <br />runoff, especially oil, leaves, dirt and debris from the streets, <br />and from lawn maintenance chemicals and fertilizers. The extra <br />100 s.f. of hardcover in a room addition probably has much less <br />isq>act than the fertilizers, la%m maintenance chod.cals, and the <br />constant drippings of oil and other toxica from automobiles onto <br />driveways and roads which often drain to the lake. While our <br />current code tries to maximize the lawn areas available for <br />treating the pollutants generated by our occupation of Orono, we <br />have to date not taken all possible steps to attempt to reduce <br />the volume or intensity of those pollutants. Limiting hardcover <br />is not the be-all, end-all of saving the lake. <br />Ml