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MINUTES OF THE <br /> ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING <br /> Monday,August 17,2015 <br /> 6:30 o'clock p.m. <br /> Chair Leskinen closed the public hearing at 8:40 p.m. <br /> Leskinen asked if the Planning Commission has ever seen any formal applications on this property. <br /> Gaffron indicated there was a prior application approximately 10 years ago for a deck off the back left <br /> corner, which was never constructed. Gaffron noted Mr. Bonnett is the person who applied for that. <br /> Leskinen commented it is not uncommon to expand up when there is nowhere else to go. <br /> Lemke noted there is room to expand to the back. <br /> Thiesse stated he was in favor of the proposal initially, but given the neighbors' comments, he is not as <br /> sure,especially when there is room to expand to the back. <br /> Leskinen stated the feeling she gets is the possible massing from the second story when it is located so <br /> close to the street. Leskinen stated she would agree with Commissioner Thiesse that the purpose of <br /> holding a public hearing is to gain public input. <br /> Landgraver asked where does this non-two story zone begin and end. <br /> Thiesse stated it would be difficult not to approve this application since the Planning Commission just <br /> approved a similar application earlier this evening. <br /> Landgraver stated it would set a precedent if they singled this one out and created an arbitrary two-story <br /> zone. <br /> Thiesse stated the two-story addition to this property does not encroach any further to the north and the <br /> encroachment to the south is the garage and not a two-story. <br /> Landgraver noted the Bonnetts raised an issue with screening and that perhaps some vegetative screening <br /> would help take the edge off it. Landgraver stated the screening should be a requirement to help shield it <br /> a little bit. <br /> Leskinen stated she had a similar thought about enhancing the screening. <br /> Landgraver stated based on the feedback from the two neighbors, screening would be appropriate. <br /> Bonnett stated the issue is how close everything is together and if everybody keeps going up. Bonnett <br /> stated the applicants could narrow it and go backwards and not have such a looming presence at the street <br /> and darken the neighborhood. <br /> Berg noted they are using the existing footprint with the addition. <br /> Leskinen stated it also is not encroaching any further toward the street except in that one corner. <br /> Bonnett stated they are adding square footage closer to the street as well as moving the garage up. <br /> Berg stated they are squaring off the residence. <br /> Page 22 of 43 <br />