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. • ( #03 -2886 DENNIS AND DIANE KILLIAN, Continued) In addition, Gaffron indicated that the Planning Commission identified the following hardships to support their recommendation for approval: 1) The lot is wider at the OHWL of Lake Minnetonka than at the street due to its pie -shape 2) More than half of the lot area is located within 75' of the OHWL of Lake Minnetonka where no structure or hardcover is permitted 3) Due to the shape of the lot, the smaller portion of the lot contains the developable area, restricting development more than if the lot was rectangular Gaffron pointed out that the Commissioners who voted to deny the application agreed with staff's recommendation that there was no hardship to support hardcover in excess of 25% permitted in the 75 -250' setback zone for new construction on the lot. While Gaffron reported that staff would recommend approval of the requested lot area, hardcover in the 0 -75' setback zone, grading within 75' of the OHWL, and filling in a bluff impact zone with the conditions noted above, staff could not support the requested hardcover exceeding 25% in the 75 -250' setback zone for new construction. Dr. Killian, accompanied by his new architect Kathy Alexander, stated that the existing house sits entirely in the 0 -75' setback zone and it would be his intent to rectify this situation by moving the house back. He believed his proposal to be a more environmentally and aesthetically pleasing plan. He pointed out that, being at the end of the cul -de -sac, his house narrows to 65' at the street and • provides little in the way of parking. He wished to construct a bit longer driveway to accommodate parking and slide the house in order to avoid removing some large trees in the yard. Killian questioned why a smaller lot down the street was granted a variance to build a larger house than he has proposed on his larger lot. He felt there was adequate hardship to support his request and questioned why staff did not support his application. Alexander stated that the house has been placed in its proposed location since the sides slope steeply from side to side and in order to avoid removing some big woods. Gaffron indicated that the Planning Commission had made the point that, if the lot were less pie - shaped and more rectangular, the hardcover would be closer to 30 %, still in excess of the permitted 25 %. He agreed that parking proves to be an issue. Murphy asked how big the house was as proposed. Alexander stated that, after removing the tuck under garage, driveway, sidewalks, etc., the footprint was approximately 1,600 s.f. Sansevere noted that at 2 -3 stories, that would equate to a roughly 5,000 s.f. home, a substantial home. Mayor Peterson noted the home would still be a substantial home, still at 30 -35% hardcover. She maintained that, in her opinion, the applicants needed to bring the hardcover figure down to 25 %, even given the credit for the rectangular shape. • PAGE 8 of 15