12-11-2006 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, December 11, 2006 7:00 o'clock p.m. • (13. #06 -3245 SHARRA TTIMANEY FOR LA URENCE AND ARDELL JONES, 3605 NORTH SHORE DRIVE, Continued) In November the Planning Commission voted 4 to 0 to recommend approval of the setback variance from North Shore Drive subject to review of the width of the shared roadway by the Fire Marshal and approval of the structural lot coverage, lakeshore setback, and average lakeshore setback variances subject to the open porch and lakeside overhang not being converted to enclosed space. The Fire Marshal indicates that since the shared driveway serves more than two houses, a 20 -foot wide fire lane must be maintained. This width is'maintained on the three lots to the southwest. On this property the existing shared driveway is about 17 feet wide adjacent to the existing garage and about 14 feet wide nearer the northeast property line adjacent to the RV parking space. On the property to the northeast the shared driveway is about 12 feet wide. The applicant proposes to narrow the shared driveway to 15 feet adjacent to the new garage while maintaining 14 feet nearer the northeast property line. If the planting bed were reduced to the depth of the eave and the shared driveway widened a foot or two opposite the northeast corner of the garage, the shared driveway would be 20 feet wide. The alignment of the shared driveway northeast of the garage will depend on where the shared roadway on the property to the northeast could be widened in the future and the acceptability to the County of further encroaclment of the shared driveway into the County right - of -way. Without knowing the location of the shared driveway and the resulting hardcover figure, Staff could not draft a resolution. Staff requests the Council direct the applicant to, one, provide a revised site plan that provides the . required 20 -foot wide fire lane in a location acceptable to the Fire Marshal and, if further encroachment into the County right -of -way is proposed, the County Transportation Department; two, provide revised hardcover calculations that exclude the shared driveway from lot area and hardcover; and three, direct Staff to draft a resolution granting the setback and hardcover variances based on the revised survey and hardcover calculations. Mr. Maney stated they have worked diligently with Staff on their project to comply as much as possible with City regulations given the constraints of the property. The recommendation of the Fire Marshal came as a surprise given the existing conditions on either side of this property. Maney inquired whether there are other options that could be pursued in lieu of the Fire Marshal's recommendation. Maney noted they have made other improvements to the property and roadway in front of their residence.. Murphy stated he is not prepared to direct Staff to prepare an approval resolution on this application until all the required infornlation is before the Council. Murphy stated on rare occasions the City Council has approved road widths that are different from the recommendation of the Fire Marshal as long as the people affected understand clearly the consequences. Murphy pointed out those other occasions have not involved other properties. Gaffron stated in those cases when the City Council granted some flexibility to the recommendation of the fire marshal, there have been other provisions requested, such as bump -outs for parking. The fire marshal has expressed a concern regarding the parking in this area. Gaffron noted there does appear to be a bottleneck near the Sundby residence, which could restrict emergency vehicles. CJ PAGE 8 of 17