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MINUTES OF THE <br /> ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING <br /> Monday,October 16,2000 <br /> • (#2627 Willmar Thorkelson,Continued) <br /> developed street and it acts more like a trail through the woods and provides access for <br /> emergency or service vehicles and utilities to Big Island. <br /> Bottenberg stated the storage shed is located on a high spot on the property, with the surrounding <br /> land consisting of wetlands and slopes to low areas. The area surrounding the shed is wooded, <br /> and the existing shed location is appropriate in terms of topography and trees except for the <br /> lot line encroachments. Moving the shed six feet back will result in the need to remove two <br /> mature trees. A total relocation of the shed on the site to meet setbacks would potentially <br /> do damage to the site due to the possible soil and vegetation disruption that would be caused <br /> by the heavy equipment to move it. <br /> Bottenberg noted structural and hardcover coverage are not an issue with this application. <br /> City Staff views this building encroachment as extremely minor as compared to the 0-75' <br /> violation on the opposite side of the island a year ago in which that resident was required to <br /> move a newly constructed cabin out of the 0-75' zone. The visual and perceived impacts of <br /> the Thorkelson request,by contrast,are minimal. <br /> City Staff recommends approval of the variance to allow the shed to remain located 23 feet <br /> from the right-of-way. <br /> Bottenberg noted the City did receive a letter from Mayor Gabriel Jabbour,who owns an adjacent lot <br /> on Big Island, indicating support of the variance, noting that the"roads"on the island are neither <br /> traveled or used. <br /> • <br /> John Waldron,Attorney-at-Law, stated if the shed is required to be relocated,the removal of <br /> some mature trees would result,which in their view is a hardship. Waldron stated the <br /> encroachment is relatively minor since the roadway is not used as a normal roadway and is not <br /> intended to become a standard roadway. <br /> Waldron commented the Applicants' son constructed the shed in a site he thought was <br /> aesthetically best for this property and did not realize he was encroaching into the setback. <br /> There were no public comments regarding this application. <br /> Hawn inquired whether another site exists on the property where this shed could have been <br /> constructed without impacting the trees. <br /> Bottenberg stated a number of trees would have needed to be cut down. <br /> Hawn noted that a number of other residents on Big Island have constructed things without <br /> obtaining the proper permits. Hawn stated in her view she is unsure whether she would have <br /> approved this shed in the first place. <br /> Kluth noted this is a substantial sized building and questioned whether the Planning Commission <br /> would have approved this size building in the first place. Kluth inquired whether the Applicant <br /> was aware that a building permit needed to be obtained prior to construction. <br /> • <br /> PAGE 17 <br />