09-22-2008 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE "'ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, September 22, 2008 7:00 o'clock p.m. • (4. #08 -3370 BARB AND %EVINDULIN WITH J. SVEN GUSTAFSON OF STONEWOOD, LLC, 1785 CONCORDIA STREET, Continued) Dulin stated they would be required to replace the floodplain somewhere else on the lot. Alexander stated the surveyor has done those calculations. Turner noted the applicants are cutting a swale on the north lot line, which in the city engineer's view should help with the drainage. Rahn asked what type of pool is being proposed. . Dulin stated the proposed pool is a four -foot deep lap pool and is designed for therapeutic purposes. Dulin stated if this application is not approved, he would be requesting a permit to redo the siding of the house and otherwise fix it up to sell it. Dulin asked whether that would trip the floodplain regulations. Turner indicated replacing siding and windows does not trip the floodplain regulations. Murphy stated he has reviewed the minutes and the original proposal and- that he believes the applicants have done an extraordinary amount of work to address the issues raised by the Council. Murphy stated he would require full approval by the City Engineer but that this proposal would vastly improve the property. Murphy stated if the pool could be moved further to give more access on that side of the property, he would be in favor of the proposal. Bremer stated she personally does not prioritize the same way the applicant does but that Council Member Murphy has made a good point. Bremer stated if the applicant had been requesting a third stall on the garage, that probably would not have raised as much concern as a pool and that she has to step back from the concept that it is a pool rather than a third garage stall. Bremer stated in her view there is a hardship to the lot but that she is unsure what the hardcover number should be. Bremer indicated she would have preferred to see a hardcover number below 27 percent and that in her view the deck could be reduced slightly. Alexander stated it is approximately 12 x 30 and that 12 feet is required to arrange furniture. Dulin stated they are approximately 628 feet over and that the porch is not that much. Rahn stated he personally feels there should be a further reduction in hardcover and that he does not particularly care where the reduction is made. Bremer stated there are plenty of homes that have been designed with porches or decks that don't extend the length of the house to help meet the hardcover limits and that she fundamentally has a problem with approving the variance in excess of 27 percent given the size of the lot. Gustafson noted the sewer line does constitute a hardship and results in approximately 1,000 square feet in hardcover, which does not seem to be given much consideration. Bremer commented the hardship should justify the hardcover in excess of 25 percent. • PAGE 10 of 18