12-13-2004 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, December 13, 2004 7:00 o'clock p.m. • (9. #04 -3052 ERIC VOGSTROM, 2618 CASCO POINT ROAD, Continued) hardship. The City has generally established that for very small lots the minimum reasonable garage/house footprint is 1,500 square feet. It is likely impossible to construct a 1,500 square foot house on this site within the 25 percent limit. Therefore, Staff will conceptually support a 1,500 square foot home with minimal decks, sidewalk and driveway needed to support it, but Staff feels this can be done in the range of 30 percent hardcover, not 36 percent. Staff is not convinced that the third garage stall is necessary. Curtis stated a letter was received today from Timothy Keane, attorney for the applicant, and has been distributed to the Council. Gaffron addressed the City Council concerning the size of the house and footprint. Gaffron stated the lot is sloped towards the lake and has approximately an 8 -foot difference from the lakeside of the proposed house to the street side of the proposed house, would ideally accommodate a walk -out and a two and a half story house without exceeding any height limits and without excess grading. Gaffron stated a footprint of 1,500 square feet with a two -stall garage could be constructed. If the applicant would like to retain the three -car garage, the first story could be reduced by 200 square feet, for a final square footage of 4,700 square feet. Gaffron indicated the shape of this lot lends itself to a home up to 55 -60' in width and also allows for a home to be angled so that it takes the best advantage of lake views. Additionally, the home could be placed with the garage at the 30' minimum setback from the road to minimize driveway hardcover. The • additional area of 0 -75' zone that is non - contiguous is a benefit to this property but cannot be considered as creating a hardship situation. No hardcover credit should be accrued to this excess lakeshore square footage. Sansevere inquired why the applicant is so reluctant to agree to 1,500. Sansevere noted he personally would not agree to anything above 1,500. Vogstrom stated he is unclear about some of the items in Staff's report. Vogstrom indicated page three of the memorandum lists a couple of properties that are smaller than his lot, both of which were granted a larger footprint. Vogstrom pointed out part of the basis for the approval on those two properties was the fact that they are located on a busy road. Vogstrom noted his property is also located on a very busy road. Vogstrom stated he meets all required setbacks, with the house being located 85' from the lake, and that he is requesting the additional hardcover to accommodate a third stall on the garage. Vogstrom indicated he has reduced the size of the proposed residence in order to have a three -stall garage. Vogstrom stated he is not sure how the city planner arrived at the square footage for the house. McMillan stated the planner included the garage in the calculation. Sansevere stated the City Council needs to be consistent with their approvals and that they may set a precedent if they approve the additional hardcover. Vogstrom stated in his view the Council would be consistent in granting the 34.5 percent hardcover given the other two lots that were granted higher hardcover. Vogstrom stated 66 percent of his lot is located within the 0 -75', with one of the examples of hardship cited in the memorandum being the fact that 50 • percent of the lot was located in the 0 -75' zone. Vogstrom stated in his opinion some of the hardship criteria found in the other two applications apply to his lot. PAGE 5