Laserfiche WebLink
12 Criteria for Practical Difficulties addressed: <br /> <br />1. The Variance is in harmony with the general intent and purposes of the Ordinance. <br />The site and house renovation design decreases the hardcover within the setback by <br />17 %. An existing asphalt driveway will be removed and replaced with a driveway up <br />to 12 feet further from the south lakeshore than the existing, while providing over <br />4000sf of dense native plantings to improve the site’s ability to filter stormwater. <br />The new site design moves hardscape away from the shorelands and aims to <br />improve the natural characteristics of the site to support shoreline soil health and <br />stability. <br /> <br />2. The variance is consistent with Orono’s comprehensive plan – supporting the City’s <br />principal goal of protecting the water quality of Lake Minnetonka. In harmony with <br />criteria item 1. above, the new roof design and minimal changes to grade near the <br />home mimic the existing flow of stormwater off the house and site in an almost <br />precisely similar manner as the existing house and site. The proposed increase of <br />total lot hardscape of less than 1% is minimal compared to the improvement of <br />conditions and hardscape within the setback that aspire to support Maxwell Bay and <br />Stubbs Bay shorelines and the greater Lake Minnetonka’s water health. <br /> <br />3. A.) the functional purposes of the lot and home use are reasonable for a single family <br />lifestyle on the lake – including safe egress and access to and from the garage to the <br />lakeshore with the existing dock (Stubbs Bay) and existing deck (to be replaced). <br />B.) There is less than 8% of the lot that is outside of the setback, and the majority of <br />the existing home existing within the setback. The Owner’s goals of renovating rather <br />than demolishing and rebuilding offer difficulties. The modest expansions of the <br />house footprint (by less than 5sf) and the reductions of setback hardscape aim are <br />the proposed solutions to the challenges inherent to the site and the existing home. <br />The roof’s dimension from the top plate of the walls is less than 6” and not amenable <br />to adequate insulation to provide a minimally comfortable, hardly condensation <br />resistant, and code compliant R10 of insulation while also properly ventilating the <br />roof and circulating air – namely to the upper north-facing areas of the home. To <br />improve the house energy efficiency, thermal comfort, and to alleviate long term air <br />infiltration, circulation, and condensation: the most sustainable solution for the 100- <br />year health of the house and it’s occupants is to remove and replace it; and the <br />design accounts for substantial Structural Engineering proposed by Craig Schaper <br />(included in drawings). The improvements and expansion of natural light via new <br />windows and the cupolas pay homage to Howe & Wright’s architecture while <br />beautifying the views from the lake on the lot in a modest manner and providing <br />150