05/21/2007 Planning Commission Minutes

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO PLANNING COMIVIISSION Monday,May 21,2007 6:00 o'clock p.m. NEW BUSINESS 4. #07-3286 CRAIG OLSON,4775 NORTH SHORE DRIVE,VARIANCES,6:41—6:51 P.M. Craig Olson,Applicant,was present. Curtis noted she did distribute some revised hardcover numbers that the applicant dropped off today. The applicant is proposing to construct a new entrance and a lakeside deck onto the existing home. As part of their application,the applicant is requesting a hardcover variance for the 75-250 foot zone. Hardcover removals have been proposed. Curtis noted the applicant's home has five foot overhangs and would be counted as hardcover. The proposed entry would be located under the existing overhang. Forty feet of the proposed deck is attached to the home and would also be under the overhang. The proposal results in a loss of 108 square feet of patio and 84 square feet of driveway. The Planning Commission should discuss whether it is reasonable to grant a bluff setback variance for the lakeside deck. The City Engineer should evaluate the landscaping on the adjacent property in order to deternune the best solution. Planning Staff recommends approval of the variances to allow construction of the rear entry to the home. Kroeger inquired whether Lot 10 is city-owned property. Curtis stated it is. Kroeger inquired whether the landscaping on that lot is the property of the city. Curtis stated that is the applicant's landscaping but is located on city property. Curtis indicated there is a pea rock area which would need to be removed and that a sidewalk would probably need to be provided for in the hardcover calculations. If the Planning Commission is coxnfortable with the application,the applicant could be directed to include a sidewalk. Olson stated the existing front entry would fit under the roofline and that the patio would be totally removed,which reduces the hardcover by 108 square feet. The retaining wall has existed for a number of years but he is unsure why it was originally constructed. Kempf opened the public hearing at 6:45 p.m. There were no public comments. Kempf closed the public hearing at 6:45 p.m. Kempf commented that this house is surprisingly close to an extremely steep bluff and that the main concern of the Planning Commission should be the protection of that bluff. Removal of the patio from the proximity of the bluff discourages human activity near the bluff and helps to redirect human traffic up to a deck level and away from the bluff. In addition,along the west side of the house,there is plastic with pea rock,which should be removed. Kempf noted the pitch of the roof appears to dump down on that pea rock and goes towards the lake. PAGE 6