08/17/2009 Planning Commission Minutes

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING Monday,August 17,2009 6:30 o'clock p.m. (7. #09-3422 RICHARD&LEESA ANDERSON,3205 CRYSTAL BAYROAD, VARIANCES, 7:42 P.M. —8:29 P.M., Continued) The applicants'property is two separate lots historically acting as one, split by the municipal boundary between Orono and Minnetonka Beach. There is a shed and 1-1/2 homes located within the Orono portion of the property. The applicants need more living space to accommodate their growing family and have considered connecting the two homes. A two-story addition is proposed on the back of the home and a roof is proposed over an existing deck on the lake side and west side of the home,effectively creating a porch. The porch addition is proposed to be set back 6.4 feet from the side lot line where a 10 foot setback is required and the two-story addition is proposed at a 0 foot setback from the side lot line where a 10 foot setback is also required. The property contains a great deal of landscaping consisting of patios,parking areas,pathways,walls and structures The applicants have proposed to remove minimal amounts of what exists in conjunction with their proposal. They have proposed a 64 square foot reduction within the 0-75 foot zone and 97 square feet within the 75-250 foot zone. Furthermore,the deck where the proposed porch addition is to be was constructed illegally in 1988. The City notified the applicants that permits and hardcover variance approvals were required. A citation was issued but the issue of the lack of approval has not been resolved. Staff feels there is simply too much hardcover on the property. Although the property has not exceeded Orono's structural coverage limitation there are too many structures,too many patios,walkways, etc., on such a small property located so close to the lake. The proposed additions aggravate the nonconformities on the property rather than offer a solution to the hardcover overages. Furthermore, Staff cannot find any permits or variances which allow the numerous hardcover landscape areas and structures on the hardcover variance approval is required to exceed the allowed levels. The illegal deck constructed in 1988 continues to be an illegal nonconforming structure. This deck should be addressed prior to issuing any permits to this property. Jim Morris,Builder, stated what they are attempting to accomplish with�the addition is to create a small family room off of the back of the house because the current house has no basement and consists of approximately 700 to 800 square feet. The majority of the hardcover is in walkways,patios,pathways, and random rocks. The waterways collect runoff from the alley on the southern side of the property. There is a large amount of runoff due to the fact that the rear of the property is approximately ten feet higher than the front of the property. There are also some catch basins located in the front of the house to collect runof£ Morris noted a portion of the hardcover includes areas that are necessary to help with the runoff and they would like to maintain that rather than have to create swales. Curtis noted the landscape rock and membrane would count as hardcover regardless of what it is used for. Berg requested the applicant illustrate the hardcover area that will be removed. Morris illustrated how the water runs off of the road down into the property. A portion of the existing shed and a portion of the patio is being reduced,with the walkway being simplified. Morris stated a portion of the brick patio is also being eliminated,which will bring the hardcover down to 35 percent. Morris illustrated the area of the rock with rubber membrane underneath it. PAGE 10