04-25-1988 - Agenda Packet City Council - regular meeting

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April 15, 1988 Dear Orono Council Members, O Ca, E 0 APR i We would truly appreciate your consideration of allowing us to keep our quaint old garage. We realize that we foolishly allowed our contractor to make decisions for us in regard to the remodeling of this beautiful old home including additions and removals. There has been many painful disappointments, long agonizing hardships, and now several lawsuits as a result of this mistake we are now faced with the hardship of the removal of this good storage structure. After owning the house for over two years we are finally enjoying living in it. However, we realize that we really need the extra space for storage and a sound and wind buffer from the busy County Road 19. It also allows a certain amount of privacy. After attending the building committee meeting and hearing their hardline position, I went out and surveyed the situation and took a hard look at what we would do with all the stuff in the old garage. I can have a garage sale but so much of the new stuff we need -- the lawn equipment, the lawn furniture, the boating and swimming gear, fishing gear, the snow blower, boat canvasses. Because of the water level we could not build a basement that most home owners have for much of this type of storage. The original cabin basement is smell and wet. The building committee seemed to take a hardline negative to our request. When we first approached the city, a building staff person felt we had a very good case. We realize now we have not made our case clear to the planning commission; instead relied on professionals to represent and influence us. 1. Because of the building restrictions, the new garage barely fits our two cars. We are both career people and need two cars. 1. We need it to store the lawn and garden equipment, snow - blowers, lawn chairs, tables, fishing and eater equipment. In the winter the fishing boats, docks and etc. 3. We need it for a wind and noise barrier from the busy highway. 4. It is a unique structure and with a little restoration such as cedar shakes and decorated with the Victorian look as the house that will add charm and value to the neighborhood. 5. Without this extra storage there will be junk piled around outside that will distract from the neighborhood.