11-24-2003 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING MONDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2003 8. #03 -2951 Judith and James Pierpont, 1849 and 1801 West Farm Road —Lot Line Rearrangement -- Continued Resolution No. 2854. The applicants' intent is to yield two lots that are conforming for the intended uses with the easterly lot totally 4- acres. This can only be accomplished if the wetland area is attributable for the 4 -acre guest house requirement. Planning Commission concluded that the wetland area is not attributable and that the guesthouse use should be discontinued, the kitchen removed, and a "Plumbing in Accessory Building CUP" be applied for. Gaffron stated that at the time the CUP was granted for the guesthouse, the lots should have been combined, yielding a lot with over 5 dry contiguous acres. For unknown reasons, the applicants never completed the legal combination. They requested the lot line rearrangement in order to maximize the area of the homestead parcel while retaining the minimum 2.0 dry buildable acres in Lot 14 for future development or sale. The result would be a lot with 3 acres of dry buildable and 1 acre of wetland. The Planning Commission felt that was not adequate to allow the guesthouse to remain. Gaffron stated that the applicants would have to make necessary easement vacations in exchange for dedication of new easements along the new lot line. There is a driveway on the property that has existed for many decades. The Planning • Commission suggests it be removed by 2004. The applicants suggested that the drive ought to be left alone as it poses no complications to any one. Gaffron stated that the City Attorney advised that the application for conversion of the guesthouse to Plumbing in an Accessory Structure be a separate application and should not be added to the current application. Planning Commission discussed the fact that the guest facilities did not meet location standards for the Plumbing CUP but concluded that because the building has been in the present location for many decades, is far from any neighboring residence, has no negative visual impacts, and is a historic structure dating in part to the 1870's, any negative impacts of such a CUP would be limited. Gaffron passed out copies of a letter from Mr. Pierpont. Sansevere asked if the applicants intended to apply for the plumbing CUP. Mrs. Pierpont stated that the guesthouse had partial plumbing when they bought the property and applied for the conversion permit in 1990. Mrs. Pierpont stated that the letter from her husband covered all the Planning Commission points. She summarized. They have no problem with the requirement to change the utility easements. The driveway recommended for removal has been in existence since the 1870's. Previous • 10