11-13-1989 - Agenda Packet City Council - regular meeting

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MS&R Architect, ,Nlever, Scherer & Rockca+dp, Ltd. ;st Second avenue North Minneapolis, Sirnncsora 55401 612 3'5-oi36 28 September 1989 Jeanne Mabusth City of Orono Building and Zoning Administration 1335 South Brown Road Orono, Minnesota 55391 Re: Pillsbury Residence - #8830 Dear Jeanne and Membe4 of tha Planning Commissi-in: This letter is written ' support of George ar..l Sally Pillsbury's request for .i conditional use permit and variance to add on a plant room to the south side of *heir existing house. The original house, built in 1949, is itself in violation of the 75' setback and therefore also the zero percent allowable hardcover percentage area within 75 feet •Df the 929.4 foot defined lake elevation shoreline; certain portions of it lie within about 55 feet of shoreline. Although we acknowledge that additions cannot be yrandfathered in under pry• -existing conditio4is, the location of the existing structure severely limits buildi.ng options. The plant room addition has to be on the south side of the house to get the aright indirect light necessary for their collection c` orchids and other plants. Furthermore, it is highly undesirable to have to direct guests, who wish to see Sally's flower collection, through private areas of the existing master bedroom. The only neighbor within direct view of the greent:uus(_ would be Eleanor Pillsbury, whose closest living area would be 280 feet from the proposed addition. Few users of the lake would be much aware of the addition, because the 25 foot embankment would obscure close-u- views and because the proposed addition has so much glass as I)e largely trans;jrent from a distance. The structure which looks somewhat like an arbor will be painted white fi blend in with the existing house and with the mature white birch trees among which it is to be located.