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Subject: <br />Background <br />11-3520, Harold & Sandra Wingerd, 1376 Baldur Park Rd, <br />Hardcover Variances <br />Public Hearing <br />Due to the orientation of the Wingerd's property and the garage on their property, a portion of <br />their current access is over the neighboring property. The neighbor to the northwest, Frederick <br />Puzak, has two access easements over the Wingerds' property. The Wingerds previously utilized <br />a portion of Puzak's property to enter their driveway; the Wingerds can no longer use their <br />current access. To solve their access issues the Wingerds are proposing to reorient their garage <br />doors from a side load to an end load and construct a new driveway entirely on their property. <br />The lot has lake on both sides and a very small 75'-250' zone; hardcover variances are necessary <br />in order to do as they propose. <br />The reorientation of the garage doors will allow the applicants to discontinue use of the <br />neighboring property for access. They are requesting to increase hardcover by 127 square feet <br />in the southwest O to 75' zone; reduce hardcover by 38 square feet in the northeast O to 75' <br />zone; and increase hardcover by 218 square feet jn the 75' to 250' zone for a total increase of <br />307 square feet. <br />Baldur Park Road as it approaches the applicants' property is approximately ±12 feet wide. The <br />applicants are proposing to remove a large blacktop area in front of the garage as it is currently <br />oriented. Some of the blacktop removal is proposed within Puzak's easement resulting in a ±12 <br />wide driveway before it widens out on Puzak's own property. Puzak reviewed the proposed <br />plans and expressed concern regarding the proposed hardcover removals within the area of his <br />easement and emergency vehicle access to his property-he also sent the planning commission a <br />letter regarding this on Thursday which was included in the packet. Staff discussed the issue <br />with Orono's Police Chief and determined that any width in driveway in excess of ±12 feet has <br />no additional emergency access benefit. <br />Staff finds due to the current access arrangement and the property's proximity to the lake, <br />practical difficulties exist. The applicants' plan should be reviewed against what is the minimal <br />increase in hardcover necessary to alleviate the practical difficulty. The proposed configuration <br />of the new driveway as it meets the existing driveway should be revised such that <br />maneuverability is not compromised. The applicants should also revise the plan to address the <br />lack of sidewalk from the driveway to the front door. Code requires a minimal 2-foot wide <br />sidewalk. As part of this application, the applicants should be required to remove any existing <br />sidewalk or hardcover encroachment which extends into the property to the northwest. <br />Staff Recommendation <br />Planning Staff recommends approval of hardcover variances in order to reorient the existing <br />driveway. The applicants should address the need for a sidewalk to the front door, remove <br />encroachments, revise the curb cut of the driveway, and be required to submit an updated <br />survey reflecting the changes prior to City Council review.