04-23-2007 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, April 23, 2007 7:00 o'clock p.m. ( #06 -3245 Michael and Karen Maney, Continued) determined that the crawl space was below that elevation and they were advised to raise that. Sharratt stated they designed a topping slab in that area to raise the floor to the 932.5 foot elevation. McMillan stated she understands why the applicants feel it would be better to replace some of the existing walls in order to construct a better structure but that it puts the City Council in a tough position when they have already granted certain variances based on the fact that this was to be a remodel. White noted the difference in the structural coverage numbers from 19 to 21 was the subtraction of the private road. White commented this is a really tough lot to construct on. Sharratt stated it would be beneficial to come up with a system that quantifies a remodel from a rebuild. Gaffron stated the Planning Commission has spent two or three years discussing that issue in an attempt to come up with some type of figure to quantify that but that the City has not finalized anything at this point. Murphy stated the City Council did approve a number of variances on this lot and that he is troubled Staff did not explain the difference between a remodel and a rebuild to the applicant. Murphy stated the • Council approved the variances without understanding completely what existed for the foundation. Turner stated the engineer's letters was received by Staff but was not thoroughly reviewed at that time. Turner stated Staff could have made it clearer to the Council that the inside of the house was going to be totally gutted. Rahn stated in his opinion Staff should be given demolition plans and that things are looked at differently by applicants and Staff. Sharratt stated their plans showed a complete reorganization of the house on the inside. Sharratt commented any time someone takes a roof off an existing house, it is very likely a considerable amount of the structure will be removed. Rahn stated that does not happen every single time but that it seems to occur a lot in this area. Sharratt stated if the house is brought up to code, a considerable portion of the house is removed and replaced. Murphy moved, White seconded, finding that the work proposed is in compliance with the previously approved variances. Rahn commented this appears to be a miscommunication between the City and the applicant. McMillan noted this is the second application in a month that the Council has had to deal with regarding • a rebuild versus a remodel and that it is her hope Staff starts requiring demolition plans to help them PAGE 6