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MINUTES OF THE ' <br /> ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING <br /> Monday,October 15,2007 <br /> 6:00 o'clock p.m. <br /> 8. #07-3322 ROBERT AND JORDANNA WILLIAMS, 845 WII.LOW DRIVE SOUTH, <br /> VARIANCE,7:08 P.M.—7:22 P.M. <br /> Robert Williams and Jordanna Williams,Applicants, were present. <br /> Curtis stated the applicant is requesting variances from the required 50 feet wetland buffer and a 20-foot <br /> buffer setback as well as the front yard setback in order to construct a detached workshop building and a <br /> connection between the existing garage and the house. • <br /> The subject property is a sliver of land located adjacent to the north basin of French Lake,which is a <br /> large wetland body. This area is included in the Shoreland Overlay District and is subject to hardcover <br /> restrictions. There is no lake setback impacting the property and the"Preserve"wetland classification <br /> will require a 50 foot buffer and a 20 foot buffer setback from the wetland boundary. <br /> Currently there is a home, detached garage and two sheds on the property. The property owners would <br /> like to remove one of the existing sheds located within the wetland boundary and construct a new 30' x <br /> 30' detached workshop building. A proposal to construct a two-story connection between the existing <br /> house and detached garage is also included. Wetland buffer setbacks and front yard setbacks overlap <br /> requiring a variance for any improvement of this property. <br /> Planning Staff recommends approval of the setback variances as requested in accordance with any . <br /> forthcoming comments from John Smyth. Prior to City Council review,the applicants should comply <br /> with the City Engineer's requirements attached as Exhibit F. Curtis noted there is an area on the site <br /> where the workshop could be constructed without variances but would require a significant amount of <br /> tree and vegetation removals. The area where the applicants have proposed the building does have <br /> screening from Willow Drive but would be located close to the edge of the wetland. Staff would <br /> request that the exact distance from the wetland to the building be confirmed by the applicant's engineer <br /> prior to the City Council meeting. <br /> In addition,the City Engineer recommends that the applicants enter into an agreement with the City <br /> similar to the conservation easement and buffer management plan to protect the buffer vegetation that is <br /> on site and to enhance the vegetation in the event the variances are granted. <br /> Staff recommends that the Planning Commission discuss whether locating the structure closer to Willow <br /> Drive would be better than a four to ten foot setback from the wetland and whether that would impact <br /> any of the vegetative screening that currently exists on the property. The Planning Commission should <br /> also decide whether restrictions and covenants should be applied over the existing wooded areas to <br /> ensure that trees are not removed in the future. <br /> Staff recommends approval of the setback variances as requested in accordance with any forthcoming <br /> comments from John Smyth. Prior to City Council review,the applicants should comply with the City <br /> Engineer's requirements attached as Exhibit F. Additionally, Staff recommends that the properly,which <br /> is technically two separate lots,be combined prior to the issuance of any building pernuts. <br /> Williams stated are flexible with what their plan and that they like the recommendation to construct the <br /> building in the location suggested by John Smyth. Williams indicated they would like to maintain the <br /> trees as much as possible. <br /> PAGE 10 <br />