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MINUTES OF THE <br /> ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING <br /> Wednesday, January 22, 2003 <br /> 6:30 o'clock p.m. <br /> (#02-2859 BLAKE AND MARY BICHANICH,Continued) <br /> Mabusth agreed, stating that this is one of the only areas left in a 2 acre zoning district where you have <br /> 50' wide lots. <br /> Bichanich stated that he could accept a 15' side yard setback on either side, and believed the true hardship <br /> will befall the neighbor to his south. <br /> Mabusth stated that she could accept a 15' side yard setback. <br /> Confused by the rationale,Fritzler stated that when property owners have long narrow lots,you should <br /> design and build a long narrow home to fit the parameters of the lot. <br /> Mabusth maintained that all encroachments must meet the side yard setbacks, including fireplace <br /> chimneys, overhangs, air conditioning units, etc. <br /> Chair Smith asked what staff would recommend. <br /> Gaffron indicated that it was difficult to find a hardship for new construction on this 100' lot, although it <br /> would not set a precedent for the other 50' lots along the street. <br /> Chair Smith acknowledged that the Commission seemed to concur that some additional side yard setback <br /> would be allowed. <br /> Zugschwert indicated that she would vote to support the proposal as submitted. <br /> Hannaford found it difficult, given the size of the lot,to throw out an arbitrary number for the side yard <br /> setback. He stated that it is clear the zoning is inappropriate and a variance should be allowed. <br /> Chair Smith recognized that these situations require the Commission to examine them on a case by case <br /> basis. <br /> Zugschwert pointed out that these variances were allowed in 1993, and questioned why the Commission <br /> felt the need to create new standards right now with this application. <br /> Hawn asked the applicant whether he could accept 20' side yard setbacks from the Commission. <br /> Bichanich stated that he could accept a 15' side yard setback requirement. <br /> Hannaford moved,Mabusth seconded,to approve Application#02-2859,Blake and Mary <br /> Bichanich,granting lot width,lot area, and side yard setback variances as proposed for the <br /> property,given the variances that were approved in 1993 and the unique hardships that this is one <br /> of the last 100' lots in this 2 acre zoning district. <br /> Hawn stated that the dimensions of long and narrow constitute a hardship, even though there is still quite <br /> a bit of land to build on. <br /> PAGE 11 of 29 <br />