08-17-2015 Planning Commission Packet

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�7 To: City of Orono Re: Proposed Plan at 60 Smith Ave August 10 2015 From:TJ and Allison Bonnett,40 Smith Ave Orono MN 55391 Attn: City Planner, Planning Commission, City Council Members We wish to address some concerns in writing for the plan in question at 60 Smith Avenue shown to us on 07/23/15 by Rob and Pam, and to note our comments to"the record".As 60 Smith is my former residence from 2005 to 2009 I am quite familiar with the lot, and currently live directly adjacent at 40 Smith Avenue. Concerns are as follows: 1. Adequate screening not addressed in preliminary plan. Rob and Pam did address that they wanted privacy as well, but we think adequate screening needs to be addressed in a comprehensive plan submitted to the city due to the closeness of the lots as well as how the houses are already situated on these lots 2. Drainage and water table concerns,will this be addressed adequately 3. Non-conforming variance needs We would like to understand the potential variances this non-conforming lot needs as those areas have been explained. Height?Hardcover?Setback? 4. Similar plans asked to be reworked previously,with valid concerns When I owned 60 Smith, I attempted to gain approvals to build an addition on the site as well and in talking to Orono City Inspectors(Willy Gibbs and Lyle)and they advised against submitting plans to the committee to widen the house and attach a garage as this was a violation in city codes, but rather create plans with a designer to deepen the existing footprint to add square footage.As these suggestions make sense for the lot,we are confused how the plan to make the home wider is now considered workable by the city. 5. Variance/Hardcover concerns We received variance for the deck that was built at 60 Smith as it could not be used to gain future square footage and with consideration of the hardcover restrictions for the lot that could not change.Are these restrictions no longer in place? In building this deck,we worked with the previous over at 40 Smith to discuss any concerns and created a plan that had adequate screening coverage as well as split costs where necessary to make this work along our property line. 6. Disrupting neighborhood character As so many have done already in building or remodeling homes in the Smith and Lyman neighborhood,we would hope that anything new compliments the character of our neighborhood as this is why people love living here. Remodeling a home to the maximum square footage for the least amount of cost by pushing the lot lines and raising the roof height is upsetting to see in a neighborhood that is known for homes that have character and sit well on the beautiful wooded property in this area. 7. Property Lines This is a wonderful plan to add maximum square footage for the least amount of cost costs however we think adding large amounts of square footage and raising the roof to a house/lot this size and close to lot lines would be a very looming encroaching presence on the adjacent property. We don't want to get in the way of progress or limit anyone's activity, and in fact like and respect Pam and Rob for approaching us about and discussing this plan we just hope that as we tried to do and were unsuccessful if a certain house won't fit on a lot,as it did not in my case,then an owner should purchase a larger confirming lot as we did, or work with existing city zoning.We want to be neighborly to any new neighbors and make sure they understand our concerns and the reasoning behind it. We wish for the integrity of this quiet and quaint neighborhood to be respected by future, prospective, and present residents.We hope the City of Orono will respect and preserve what made this neighborhood so private preserved and unique,as they have done in the past. We appreciate the city keeping us informed with respect to this project next door, and helping maintain access to this street be emergency vehicles during construction. Best regards, Tj and Allison Bonnett 612-382-7900 c.