03-20-2000 Planning Commission Minutes

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ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES FOR MARCH 20, 2000 • (#2564 William Dampier, Continued) currently exists on the property. Dampier stated he is willing to accept Bottenberg's numbers on the hardcover. Dampier stated he is somewhat confused because the front deck is considered structural but the rear deck is not. Nygard stated as he understands the American Disabilities Act, the handicap access itself does not count towards your hardcover. Weinberger stated the American Disabilities Act does provide for one handicap access to the home, with certain portions of the access not being included in the hardcover figures. Weinberger inquired whether the home presently is handicapped accessible. Dampier stated currently the home is not handicapped accessible, with the proposed plan providing for a handicap access. Berg inquired whether there is a survey on this property. Bottenberg stated the survey in the file is dated March, 1990. Berg stated an updated survey is always required at the time of the application. Hawn stated there still appear to be some issues that need to be resolved prior to approval, with the biggest issue being the amount of structural coverage being proposed. Hawn stated the Applicant will need to reduce structural coverage somewhere on the property. Lindquist stated the Planning Commission is looking for a reduction in the amount of proposed structural coverage to reduce it to the amount that currently exists on the property. Dampier expressed frustration with the fact that the deck that appears to be in question now was just recently replaced, noting he is not in a financial position to remove the deck at this time. Kluth reiterated that the Planning Commission is not requiring the removal of the deck, but is asking the Applicant to reduce the overall structural coverage on his property. Kluth stated removal of the deck is one option available to the Applicant to reduce the structural coverage. Dampier stated leaving the deck aside, if he chooses to change anything on the foundation, that would be considered a rebuild rather than a remodel and then the setbacks would apply. Lindquist stated City Staff is willing to work with the Applicant on this application in order to reduce the structural coverage to what currently exists. Dampier commented that a majority of the houses in his neighborhood currently exceed the structural coverage limits. Lindquist stated the Planning Commission is not in a position tonight to discuss those. It was the consensus of the Planning Commission that they would be willing to approve variances to setback and hardcover but not inclined to grant a structural coverage variance in excess of what currently exists on the property. • Hawn inquired whether the Applicant would like the Planning Commission to act on his application Page 11