10-25-2015 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, October 12, 2015 7:00 o’clock p.m. _____________________________________________________________________________________ Page 26 of 37 13. #15-3781 STONEWOOD ON BEHALF OF BELLE AND HARRY YAFFE, 3185 CASCO CIRCLE, VARIANCES (continued) Belle Yaffe stated she was very excited to join the Orono community and that she and her husband have spent the last year looking for a house on the lake. Yaffe stated they immediately fell in love with this lot and the neighborhood. The view of the lake is spectacular, which is the whole reason for living on Lake Minnetonka. Yaffe stated they designed a house that would fit their needs as well as fit in with the Casco Point area. Yaffe stated she was very surprised when they learned that they would have to move their house 15 feet further back from the lake and that their immediate response was to simply remodel the current house. Yaffe stated when she was listening to the Planning Commission talk about how views are important for everyone involved, it seemed to her that the fireplace should be considered structure and that it is unfair to their view. Harry Yaffe, Applicant, stated he was dumbfounded and surprised at getting the letter from the neighbor’s attorney a couple of days before the Council meeting. Yaffe indicated they walked all around the house and asked themselves what they can live with. Yaffe noted they went from a 7.5 foot encroachment to a 6-foot encroachment and that they have made the house smaller and have incurred extra costs with the redesign. Yaffe indicated last Wednesday he spoke with Debra, who asked if they could stake the corners of the house. The location of the house has been staked so everyone can see exactly where the house is going to go. Yaffe stated the new home, even with the variance, will be approximately 10.5 feet back from the old house and further from the lake. The four-season porch represents about 26 percent of the lineal feet of the house. The house is approximately 62 feet and three inches and the four-season porch is 16 feet. Yaffe noted they are not asking for a variance for the whole house and that approximately 75 percent of their plan complies with the average lakeshore setback. Yaffe reiterated he was confused and dumbfounded by the letter and that he thought they were getting along. Yaffe stated he thought they all agreed on the six feet and that they have taken the guesswork out of it as to where the four season porch will be located. Christopher Huntley, Attorney-at-Law, stated the reason why the letter was sent out is that his client is currently out of the country and that she needed someone to stand in her place to argue her case. Huntley stated the reason why Debra wanted the letter sent is that she wanted this issue postponed so she would have the opportunity to find out if the proposed plans were what she thought they were going to be or if she has a reason to object. Huntley stated the applicants did not want to postpone their application, and once the letter was sent out, she approached the applicants and asked again if they would postpone it, which they did not agree to. Huntley stated she does not lose her opportunity to argue it. Huntley stated Debra first met the applicants in August, who subsequently informed her that they would be requesting a variance.