03-10-2003 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING MONDAY, MARCH 10, 2003 • 5. #02 -2859 Blake and Mary Bichanich, 332 Westlake Street — Variances— Continued Murphy stated it seemed the applicant would either need more land or a smaller house. Allers stated that if a 200' wide, 2 -acre lot required 30' setbacks, then it made sense for 100' wide, 1.3 -acre lot to need 15' setbacks because proportionately it was the same. He asked why Council felt the code applied to his situation and the neighborhood. Nygard stated that they didn't necessarily, but the code was what they had to work with. He suggested Allers and the neighbors get a petition going to change the code and rezone the neighborhood, giving the Council something new to consider. Mayor Peterson suggested they table the application. Barrett stated that he agreed with staff. The Council had to work within the laws and identify a hardship. The inability to get a certain width house was not a hardship. If Council granted a variance, it would set a precedent. Allers asked what they would have to do to rezone. Gaffron stated they would need to look at the adjacent zones to determine what district the neighborhood should be rezoned. Sansevere asked if it was worth pursuing. Gaffron stated that if they could rezone to 1- acre and not create higher density, and meet the City's goals with the rezoning, then it • might be worth considering. • Murphy asked what precedent the rezoning would set. Moorse stated they would have to consider the entire City and rezone all similar neighborhoods. Murphy stated they should not rezone to fit the homes, but the homes should fit the zoning. Sansevere stated it would set too great a precedent. Nygard stated that when the neighborhood was zoned, they didn't expect it to be sewered. Allers asked why they couldn't consider each neighborhood on its own merits as issues came up. Sansevere asked if they would take in the house 1' on the south side and 3' on the north to fit the Planning Commission's recommendations. Allers stated he would look into it. Sansevere asked if they could work with the existing foundation in order to avoid needing any variances at all. It would be the simplest solution. Allers stated they would work with staff to find a solution. Murphy moved, and Sansevere seconded, to table #02 -2829, Blake & Mary Bichanich, 322 Westlake Street. Vote: Ayes 5, Nays 0. I