07-11-2011 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

• MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, July 11, 2011 7:00 o'clock p.m. (5. #10 -3479 PHILLIP WHIPPLE, 3095 CASCO POINT ROAD, Continued) Curtis stated the City has required minimum standards for driveways. The driveway must be at least eight feet wide. Bremer indicated she is in agreement with Council Member Rahn. Bremer stated if there was only one turnaround, she would understand the need for it, but that there are a lot of houses on the lake that have worse situations. If the applicant would like to go with the garage, the other turnaround should be removed. Rahn stated it appears the zone is over by 645 square feet and that either the driveway or the garage could be made smaller in order to reduce the hardcover. Rahn noted he would not be willing to approve the application as it is presented. Franchot noted he was in attendance at the Planning Commission meeting when this was approved and that as it relates to the practical difficulty, the Planning Commission looked at the narrowness of the lot, which automatically creates a higher percentage of driveway coverage. The practical difficulty was the fact that the shape of the lot created the need for the additional hardcover. Bremer pointed out the City has had numerous applications in the past where the City has not allowed this size of garage if they were over on their hardcover. • McMillan noted there is a two -car attached garage, and that to go over the hardcover in the 250 -500 foot zone to construct a storage shed is not a practical difficulty associated with living in a residential zone. McMillan stated whether it is the driveway or the detached garage, something has to be reduced in order to bring it into conformance. Whipple stated they can perhaps make the one turnaround work with the descent of the driveway. McMillan commented all property owners would love to have storage on their lots but at some point it becomes a luxury. McMillan recommended the applicant look at reducing either the driveway or the garage and that'a practical difficulty would be something related more with day -to -day living, such as having space for your everyday car. Rahn stated he would be willing to approve it based on the condition that the variance is eliminated and that the applicant can decide what he wants to eliminate. Sharratt stated the upper area skews the hardcover numbers. Rahn stated adding another four -car sized garage is a luxury that everyone will want to have and that the City will struggle with these in the future if this one is allowed. Sharratt stated the Planning Commission requested that they consider a way to mitigate the runoff and requested that they look at the concept of a potential rain garden in the area near the bottom of the driveway. Sharratt noted the Council has a plan for that in their packet. The applicants chose not to place it in that area and have submitted a revised plan for a rain garden. That rain garden would be located right off the bottom of the driveway at the top of the steep slope. The applicants felt that catching the runoff was equal to reducing the hardcover. If they are required to go to 30 percent, the applicants may decide not to put in the rain garden. Sharratt asked which solution would be better in the Council's mind. Page 7 of 19