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, <br /> ' MINUTES OF THE <br /> ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING <br /> Monday,October 15,2007 <br /> 6:00 o'clock p.m. <br /> (#07-3305 Lake Country Builders, Continued) <br /> Staff feels that the property is currently being put to a reasonable use and to further the nonconformities <br /> with the proposed structural additions is excessive. Staff continues to recommend denial. However, <br /> should the Planning Commission find that the applicanYs revised plans meet the direction provided at <br /> the August meeting,then an approval recommendation could be forwarded to the City Council. <br /> James Zimmerman stated he has resided in this property for approximately 14 years,with the home ' <br /> being constructed in 1959 and consists of roughly 2900 square feet. The lot is nonconforming and an <br /> existing boathouse exists on the property. Currently the property has 24 percent hardcover and 9.6 <br /> percent structural coverage. Two-thirds of the hardcover consists of the driveway,with the rest <br /> consisting of the house. <br /> Zimmerman indicated his building objectives were to develop a plan that would be better for Lake <br /> Minnetonka and the environment,would be supported and embraced by his neighbors,would fit in and <br /> be appropriate for the site and the neighborhood, and modernize the property. Zimmerman indicated a <br /> number of years ago he worked for the DNR and Wildlife Forever on a shoreline vegetation program for <br /> Minnesota and over the years has made some modifications to his property in an effort to help the <br /> environment. The current plans propose incorporating a significant rain garden element that would <br /> significantly reduce runoff and benefit the lake. In addition,three areas of vegetation were added <br /> approximately five to six years ago to the property,which is where the rain garden would also be <br /> located. <br /> Zimmerman noted a couple of his neighbors are in attendance at tonight's meeting and are supportive of <br /> the project,with the goal of the neighborhood being to enhance individual properties. Zimmerman <br /> indicated he did make every attempt possible to ensure that his neighbors' views were not blocked by <br /> this project and that structural coverage will be under the 15 percent structural coverage. The current <br /> structure is a 1950's rambler and does not have a main floor bathroom. The issues outstanding are the <br /> boathouse,the driveway,which is the reason for the variance request since the driveway constitutes <br /> about two-thirds of the total hardcover. <br /> Zimmerman indicated he would prefer to narrow the driveway in order to make the proposed hardcover <br /> neutral with what is there today but that he understand the fire depariment would prefer to keep the <br /> driveway as is and he would be amenable to that if that is the direction of the Planning Commission. <br /> Zimmerman stated in his view Options 1 and 2 presented at the second Planning Commission meeting <br /> met the direction provided by the Planning Commission following the detailed discussion at the August <br /> meeting, as neither plan adds hardcover toward the point and both employ a reduced roofline as <br /> requested. <br /> Zimmerman displayed a number of photographs of his property and the other houses in his <br /> neighborhood from the lake. Zimmerman noted the area where they are proposing to add the addition is <br /> very well screened and is not visible for the majority of the neighbors. <br /> Zimmerman reiterated his goal is to create a plan that would protect and help preserve the lake as well <br /> as conform with the rest of the neighborhood. <br /> Chair Kempf opened the public hearing at 6:18 p.m. <br /> PAGE 3 <br />