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Mayor and City Council March 20, 1998 Page 2 setback of principal structures from the lake, which later became a 75-foot setback in the City of Orono and elsewhere. At that time, we developed these hardcover standards without having, as I recall, any empirical data to support the percentages that were set forth in the proposed ordinance. This was in part because of the lack of data available. However, it was thought that the percentages that were adopted would generally allow for the development of high-quality homes around the lake, which could comply with those general standards, absent long lots, unique topography, unique situations relating to treed areas, etc., that in any event should be preserved from alteration if at all possible. The intent of the Council then, at least, was to grant variances liberally, as long as the variances did not result in too much alteration of the standards, absent extreme situations, because at least we had established a general standard that could be modified liberally as necessary to allow for development. In fact, the shoreland regulations in effect today, that are promulgated by the State of Minnesota and must be incorporated as minimums into shoreland ordinances, only require a hardcover restriction of 25 percent applied over the entire lot and not a 25 percent restriction between the 75 and 250 foot setback as is set forth in the City's ordinance. My clients propose a home on Lake Minnetonka which is not extraordinary in size, number of bedrooms or garage stalls, etc. As can be seen from the plans submitted by my client, the home is a four-bedroom home with a three-car garage, and one of the bedrooms is in the basement. That is not an extraordinarily large house for a Lake Minnetonka home, or, quite frankly, for any new home in the City of Orono. However, because of the distance of the home location from Bohn's Point Road, the driveway leading to the home that is within the 75 to 250 foot setback is longer than one might normally find on some lots that are of a normal configuration so that the home site is closer to the public road. In this case, the lot length has resulted in a need for a longer driveway that has contributed to the hardcover slightly in excess of that which is allowed under the ordinance without a variance. As my clients will demonstrate, they could move the house further back so that there need not be a driveway of such length within the 75 to 250 foot setback area, but then that house would look out of place when it is viewed from the lake or from Bohn's Point Road. Moreover, the view to the lake from that house at that location would be blocked substantially by houses on each side that have been built at the 75-foot setback line. As my clients will discuss, they have with their architect and builder considered various 15264BDM