06-23-2003 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, June 23, 2003 • 7:00 o'clock p.m. ( #01 -2714 FREDERICK PUZAK, Continued) Gaffron shared the staff recommendation that the applicant be advised to 1) redesign the house to a 3- bedroom configuration, 2) make a new (not renewal) variance application for a revised house plan and connection to the existing 3- bedroom capacity septic system rather than to City sewer. As an alternative, to preserve his 5- bedroom design, Gaffron indicated that staff suggested the applicant might again request the City condemn an easement for sewer. Staff would request Council provide direction as to whether there would be support for proceeding with a condemnation. Gaffron pointed out that an additional alternative would be to allow construction of a 5- bedroom home connected to the 3- bedroom septic system, and require that the house be connected to sewer as soon as it becomes available. Gaffron asked the Council to provide the applicant with additional direction. Mr. Puzak indicated that he had been working on this application since 2000 and would like to be given permission to move forward and build his house. He asked the Council to consider allowing him to build more than a three bedroom home. Sansevere asked if there would be any benefit in trying to continue to reach the neighbor, Mr. Franklin, to obtain an easement. If not, Sansevere asked how the City would view condemnation. Gaffron stated that the City, and the applicant, had both exhausted trying to contact Mr. Franklin. • He discouraged condemnation proceedings, stating that they would be costly and time consuming. • Puzak stated that he had received no call backs from Mr. Franklin in two years. Gappa concurred, stating that the Franklins had been unresponsive to two letters and that no easement had been filed. Mayor Peterson asked if there was expansion space for the septic system to allow for a larger home. Puzak indicated that there was an alternate 4- bedroom capacity site on the property that they would be investigating further. He asked if he could be allowed to proceed with the hardcover and lakeshore setback variances that were approved already and continue to work on the septic plan. Given the fact that the municipal sewer requirement would be deleted from the conditions, Gaffron maintained the applicant would need to file a new (not renewal) application, since new conditions exist and the variances had expired. He advised the applicant that, in either scenario, he would need to go through the planning process again. Puzak inquired whether an amended application for renewal would take any longer. Gaffron reiterated that it would require the same amount of time to complete the process whether it be a new or renewal application. In all likelihood, Gaffron stated the application could be put on the August Planning Commission agenda, and the City Council agenda later that month. PAGE 3 of 15