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u MINUTES OF THE CITY OF ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING HELD ON APRIL 18, 1994 ( #13) #1919 TY BUCEY, 2677 CASCO POINT ROAD, VARIANCES - PUBLIC HEARING Chair Schroeder noted that this item must be tabled due to the bluff issues and incomplete legal notification, but since many neighbors were present, the item would be discussed and public comments accepted. Gaffron reviewed the staff report and discussed the major issues involved with the proposal. He described the six variances required for the proposed house which needed to be addressed. Ty Bucey was present, and requested the Planning Commission to discuss the issues. He stated that they had a fire last December and he had two small children and they had moved three times, and were experiencing great hardship in getting the plans approved. Chair Schroeder stated that this lot was not unbuildable and they will have to grant some variances. He discussed the hardcover computations and the reason for the changes. He discussed the filling which was approved by the City and which will remain there. He stated he felt the critical issues were drainage and the height of the proposed house and the structural hardcover issue. He opened the public hearing. Beverly and Louis Smerling, 2683 Casco Point Road, stated she had lived there a long time • and she and her husband were opposed to the proposed variances because the house would be too high and would impact their property adversely. Mrs. Smerling stated she felt the house did not fit in with the surrounding neighborhood and would be located too close to their property line. Chair Schroeder noted that the proposed garage would not be closer to the property line than the previous garage had been and the Smerling's garage was equally as close to the property line. Louis Smerling stated he felt that the proximity of the structures contributed to the fact that they had two mudslides on their property. He stated they have sympathy for the applicant but felt that they should have discussed their plans with neighborhood residents before the application went this far. Chair Schroeder noted that hardcover variances in the Casco Point area are of particular concern because of the erosion problems in this area. Allen Green, 2645 Casco Point Road stated he was concerned about the project because of aesthetics, conformity and the height of the proposed house which would impact the view from the lake shore. He felt that the proposed house was an improvement from the previous house and he felt the house should be approved. He commented that had the existing house not burned, the drainage issues would still be present. He believed the new construction would present an opportunity to direct the runoff from the site in a better way to avoid further erosion. He stated he was a long time resident of the area and strongly felt that this was an opportunity to improve the neighborhood. He requested the Planning Commission to grant the variances as requested. • Z