08/18/03 Planning Commission Minutes

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING Monday, August 18, 2003 6:00 o'clock p.m. (#11 #03-2933 GARY NECE ON BEHALF OF ROBERT AND BRENDA MACDONALD, Continued) With regard to the water meter variance, the Ordinance requires that utilities for non-rental guest apartments not be metered separately which is what the applicant is proposing. However, Waataj a stated that city staff directed the applicants to design the utilities where they would be contained within the property boundaries. To do this,without tearing the entire house down, a separate meter must be installed. The intent of this condition is to not have a separate address paying for the separate meter. The applicants have indicated they will not be using the apartment as a means for income but rather for convenience for their guests and therefore meet the intent of the condition set forth in the conditional use permit requirements. Waataja indicated that, since the applicants are proposing a larger accessory building than the two car garage that currently exists, hardcover is ultimately being added to the property. The new building will be located in the 250-500' zone and will meet the 30% hardcover for this zone. However, the 75-250' zone is currently over on hardcover and because additional hardcover is being added to the property, this extra hardcover is up for discussion. All work is being conducted in the 250-500' zone. The applicants are adding a larger garage and a new patio connecting the pool and entertainment room. In addition, they are proposing a net loss in driveway(combination of new pavement in the 250-500' zone and reducing pavement in the 75-250' zone by 239 s.f.). This brings the total added hardcover in the 250-500' zone to 860 s.f Potential removals at a 1:1 ratio of added hardcover would be consistent with what has been approved previously. This would amount to a reduction of 860 s.f. hardcover within either the 75-250' or 250-500' zones or combination thereof Waataja explained that staff recommends: 1. Approval of the conditional use permit to allow plumbing in an accessory building for a toilet room in the new detached garage/entertainment room. 2. Approval of the conditional use permit to allow a non-rental guest apartment above the existing garage. 3. Approval of a variance to allow a separate water meter because the conditions of the existing water services would require the house to be torn down to be able to add the proposed plumbing using the existing meter. 4. Approval of a hardcover variance for the 75-250' zone subsequent to hardcover removals which amount to the area of hardcover being added (either in the 250-500' zone or the 75-250' zone or a combination thereof). Chair Smith reiterated that the apartment would not be a rental apartment. PAGE 18 of 30