04/16/2007 Planning Commission Minutes

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MINUTES OF THE , ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING . Monday,Apri116,2007 6:00 o'clock p.m. (#07-3280 Vogue ICF Homes on behalf of Tom Parker,Continued) Vogstrom stated they are very conscious of water management and that their proposal would help with the runoff. Vogstrom stated the water runoff would be directed down toward the middle of the two homes and should not affect the adjoining properties. Vogstrom stated the garage is going to be built at the elevation of the road and that they are attempting to preserve as many of the sightlines as possible. � . Parker stated they have also designed the houses to be more narrow and taller to allow for additional space between the lots. Edwards stated all of the houses have been built on the lots the way the fopography is,but on 1350 the property was not dug out and is really just the way the property originally was. " Zullo stated she does not see a hardship on these lots for any variances and that the applicant has the opportunity to combine the lots and construct one residence. Zullo stated the setback is not a hardship and that she does not see the need for any variances to be granted. Vogstrom stated the hardship is the price of land in this area and that they are not.asldng for anything that has not been granted in the past. . . Zullo stated the price paid for a lot is a personal choice on the part of the purchaser and that the variances are not necessary. � Kroeger stated he is in agreement with the neighbors and that variances are really not necessary for these lots. ' Kempf stated he did visit the lots and looked at the adjacent buildings and that it is a difficult neighborhood to construct in and that there are going to be runoff issues given the topography of the area. Kempf stated this project does give the City the opportunity to improve the drainage in this area and that in his view the houses are not out of character for the area. Kempf stated nowadays people require two-car garages as well as a larger house than 30 years ago, . especially given its location on the lake. . . Kempf stated his main concern relates to the drainage but pointed out that the drainage issues have existed probably since the lots were first developed. Kempf stated he also has a concern with the height of the structures. ' Kempf stated he likes the concept of the shared driveway and the houses being located closer to the street. � Rice stated she does not see a hardship to grant a variance to the height. PAGE 29 � . � . . .. . . . . . , � , .., . . .i v �.F w .� .