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To: Melanie Curtis Roger Peitso From : Shawn & Kelly Wischmeier Re: 540 Big Island Garage Variance Date: October 9, 2017 My goal is to better communicate the actions we have taken thus far on the 540 Big Island project. We had zero intent of frustrating either of you or the City of Orono in any way. I must first apologize for the poor communication on my end. I put everything on Dan Murphy of our builder (KDB) to handle as it relates to the variance process when I should have been more involved from the start. I have also had a period of heavy travel at work, which unfortunately took my attention away. I should have asked Kelly to be more involved in my absence . Here are some background points on my view/intent of what has happened thus far. Following these points are a number of pictures that help illustrate one or more concept as discussed. 1) I believe that KDB was acting in good faith when they chose the placement of the garage as they were simply trying to keep the construction on the island as compact and hidden from the shoreline as possible. This is consistent with the same approach Kelly and I have taken to keep this project as discreet and hidden as possible. We are also working to make sure that whatever is viewable from the water will look as natural as possible (e.g., we place the chimney in such a way that it is about the only thing visible in the opening through the trees from the water so as to allow the more natural stone to be seen as opposed to siding). That said, despite the best of intentions all around, KDB recognizes that the foundation was placed too close and thus filed the variance on behalf of Kelly and myself. 2) KDB realized that the foundation was poured too close to the main structure ("cabin") some weeks ago. They communicated this to us so we were certainly aware that they needed to work through a variance process with the City of Orono. Not at all trying to pretend that we were unaware of the need to work through a variance process. 3) Challenges we run into by building on the island are many, as I'm sure you can appreciate. We have to barge everything out, rarely have exactly what we need, have trouble finding the right labor/skills from time to time, sometimes need heavy equipment which may or may not be available, etc. We completely realize these are our problems, not yours, but wanted to note that all of these considerations have weighed into the actions we have taken thus far. 4) Given the long-range planning that we required to source, procure, transport materials to the island, and line up the labor to start building this garage, it would have been very difficult and costly for us to stop our progress in moving forward. There were a number of sunk expenses, especially on the labor side that could not be recouped at a future date . Materials were ordered and in the process of being delivered . 5) Additionally, given the timing of the variance process coming to completion in mid to late November, which would also put us at a point that the large equipment we need to safely build ECEIVED OCT O 8 2.0i7 C\TY OF ORONO