06-09-2003 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING MONDAY, JUNE 9, 2003 10. #03 -2896 Bruce Boeder on behalf of Franciscus Bastiaens -665 Ferndale Road • North — Conditional use Permit and Variance — Continued Sansevere moved, and White seconded, to approve the requested temporary guest house CUP according to staffs recommendations that the guest house would have to be occupied by persons who would otherwise use the primary residence, should not be used as a rental unit, use be allowed only for 24 months with an escrow account established to insure removal of the house, the driveway connection to North Ferndale Road be removed after 24 months with the guest house; except allowing the guest house to remain connected to the current septic and only requiring hookup to the new septic if staff finds that a problem arises at any point. Vote: Ayes 4, Nays 0. 11. #03 -2901 Denali Custom Homes, Inc. on behalf of Melinda Lee and Thomas DeVeau, 680 Tonkawa Road — Variances Gaffron stated that the applicants proposed to remove the existing house and construct a new house on a lot just over a half acre, .54 acre, with a width of 64'. They were requesting a hardcover variance in the 75 -250' setback zone to allow 29.15% where 25% is allowed. The Planning Commission found that the loss of lake views resulting by moving the house • closer to the road due to average setback variance previously granted to the neighbor, also, the narrowness of the lot, and the steep topography resulting in necessary hardcover associated with retaining walls and lake access stairs in the 75 -250' zone. Staff recommended approving the lot area and width variances, but denying the hardcover variance. A house could be built on the property at 25% hardcover. David Beeker of Denali Custom Homes stated that they had come up with new plans based on staff's recommendation, which he passed around at the meeting. He stated that they had come up with a system of hardship credits that allowed them to get down to the 25% hardcover requirement. They found an 80 s.f. hardship credit for the retaining walls required to maintain the slope, 127 s.f. of stairs needed to access the lakeshore. For the sightline variance, he stated that since a variance was required to cross the average setback, the applicant was then faced with a hardship. They had pulled their house back 20' from the existing house footprint to reduce hardcover. If they pulled back any farther, they would be behind the neighboring property. Murphy asked if Council was in the business of giving hardship credit. Gaffron stated that the concept was unique, but it had been discussed at the Planning Commission. The applicant had found a way to quantify credit. The boulder retaining walls and stairs were given 1 for 1. The ability to not pull the house back any farther was based on the reduction in driveway size. He asked if Council agreed with the concept. 0 IC]