08-17-2015 Planning Commission Packet

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~ MINUTES OF THE ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING Monday,July 20, 2015 6:30 o'clock p.m. ROLL CALL The Orono Planning Commission met on the above-mentioned date with the following members present: Acting Chair Kevin Landgraver, Commissioners Bruce Lemke, Loren Schoenzeit, Jon Schwingler and John Thiesse. Representing Staff were Community Development Director Jeremy Barnhart, Senior Planner Michael Gaffron, City Planner Melanie Curtis, City Engineer/Public Works Director Adam Edwards, and Recorder Jackie Young. City Council Mayor Lili McMillan was present. Acting Chair Landgraver called the meeting to arder at 6:30 p.m., followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. CONSENT AGENDA *1. APPROVAL OF PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES OF JUNE 15,2015 Schwingler moved,Lemke seconded,to approve the minutes of the Orono Planning Commission meeting of June 15, 2015, as submitted. VOTE: Ayes 5,Nays 0. NEW BUSINESS 2. #15-3761 RIDGE CREEK CUSTOM HOMES OB/O NANCY RADERMECHER,4775 NORTH SHORE DRIVE,VARIANCES, 6:33 P.M.—6:40 P.M. Rob Eldridge, Ridge Creek Custom Homes,was present. Curtis stated is applicant is proposing to construct a 204 square foot,two-level lakeside addition on the west side of the home. An existing 6-foot wide upper level walkway will be removed. Due to the location of the existing home on the property,the following variances are necessary: 1. An average lakeshore setback variance to locate the addition 87.4 feet from the lake where the neighboring home has a setback of 90.1 feet. 2. A bluff setback variance to perxnit the addition to be 12 feet from the top of the bluff where a 30-foot setback is required 3. A variance to allow an 8-foot encroachment into the 20-foot bluff impact zone. Because there is not an adjacent home on the west,the average lakeshore setback is determined by the most lakeward extent of the neighboring home on the east. The applicant's home is 98 feet from the lake and the elevated deck extends as close as 87 feet to the lake. The addition will maintain the existing 87- foot setback. There are some mature trees between the two properties, and due to the elevation of both homes above the lake, it is unlikely the addition will impact views enjoyed by the neighbor to the east. Further,the addition is proposed to be located 12 feet from the top of bluff where a 30-foot setback is required and encroach into the bluff impact zone. That zone is intended to be a protected area where no structures or hardcover is permitted. Within the report is Staff's analysis of the practice difficulties associated with the variance request. To summarize, Staff finds that the location, shape, and size of the existing home; the limited legal building Page 1 of 25