03-19-2007 Planning Commission Packet

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� MINUTES OF THE � � ORONO PLANNING COMI�IISSION • Tuesday,February 20,20U7 6:00 o'clock p.m. (#07-3251 Mandeep Sodhi, Continued) � Mrs. Sodhi stated if the dirt had not been removed to correct the water in the basement,the deck. would have been three feet off the ground in that section. • Rahn inquired whether the size of the patio increased. � � Sodhi stated it has not and that they have planted shrubs all the way around the house. Kempf asked how the deck would have been three feet off grade with the dirt removed. , Mrs. Sodhi stated the previous deck was multi-tiered and they would have had to construct that portion of the deck higher due to the dirt. ' . Kroeger inquired whether the applicants have attempted to acquire some additional land on that side. Sodhi stated that option is not the easiest to execute and that the deck was deteriorating and needed to ' be replaced. Sodhi stated if the deck were reduced enough to be out of the setback,they would end up " with a walkway and they would not have any room to sit. Rahn stated it appears from the pictures that the deck lines up with the corner of the porch. Rahn stated the Planning Commission has to look at this application as if the deck does not e�st. . Kempf stated it is a unique lot,with a poorly placed house, and that those two factors do create some hardship for the new property owners. Kempf stated one of the main values of the property is the�view of the lake and that the applicants should be allowed more than just a walkway on the lakeside of the house. Kempf noted the lot is wooded and that he would be in favor of reducing the size of the deck to comply with the building code. . Winer indicated she is in agreement with Commissioner Kempf. . � Zullo stated the deck could be extended further in the other direction. Mrs. Sodhi indicated the larger portion of the deck is located near the kitchen and more easily accessible at that location. Mrs. Sodhi stated if they were to add deck going in the other direction,it � would also obsiruct their view. � ' � Sodhi distributed some photographs of the property,noting that the lot is heavily wooded. Sodhi stated there really is only one area of the deck that has a view of the lake. Zullo inquired why a permit was not obtained for the work. Sodhi stated the deck broke on Friday,the day before his son's first birthday party was scheduled, and . that he asked the workers who were installing the windows to build a new deck right away. . PAGE 12 .