01-08-1990 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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LINDQUIST & VENNUM City of Orono December 29, 1989 Page 2 improvements will constitute a net reduction in hardcover in the 0-75' zone. Second, the applicants and Tom Meyer have done everything in their power to move the building addition as far from the lakeshore as possible and to reduce its size as much as possible. But for the reasons stated in the application, namely design of the house, location of driveway, location of living areas ini^ide the house, the need for the sunlight to come in from the southeast, the benefit of retaining existing mature birch trees, neither the size nor the location of the addition to the house can be further decreased. All uuch cases as this are difficult. Nevertheless, there are compelling reasons these variances and conditional use permit should be granted. It appears from the application as amended, the staff report, and the draft resolution I enclose that there are more than adequate and acceptable reasons for finding a hardship and granting the variances and conditional use permit refjuested. The enclosed resolution provides all of the necessary findings of fact to document the wholly unique circumstances present in this case which together more than comply with the variance standards. Without restating the draft resolution in its entirety, those compelling reasons are that the house is an architecturally significant house more than 40 years old. The house was constructed on a lot which is 50 percent larger than even present day minimum lot size standards require in this zone. The lot vastly under-utilizes the hardcover allowed. The reverse slope of the land is the primary reason the house is within the 75' zone in the first place. Much of the new hardcover is for the purpose of stabilizing the embankment. The accual house audition is only 170 square feet and because of the layout of the house the addition cannot go anywhere else since it is for living area purposes. With the above amendment to the application there is now a net reduction of hardcover within the 0-*75' zone. Virtually no other property on the lake has this unusual coincidence of facts. While the Orono Council does look hard at variances, and should look hard at this one, I feel confident that when all of the foregoing facts and circumstances are taken into account that the reasonableness of the variances to allow an addition to this house should be granted. If you have any questions about the facts or if you would like to view the property, please don't