06-25-2012 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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CJ MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, June 25, 2012 7:00 o'clock p.m. (3. #10 -3491 CITY OF ORONO - HARDCOVER REGULATIONS AMENDMENT, Continued) Gozola stated this is existing language that was moved over into the new ordinance. Rahn stated typically with a nonconforming setback, they would not allow them to add a story. Curtis indicated it would require a variance. Mattick stated that would be considered an expansion of a nonconformity. Curtis indicated they do review applications with respect to all regulations and that this ordinance is merely dealing with hardcover. Rahn stated with regard to Number 3, you could have a deck that you are putting a roof on that would put you over structural coverage and would have nothing to do with hardcover. Rahn asked what an open porch means. Curtis indicated it is a screened in porch. McMillan asked what Staffs thoughts are regarding the proposed ordinance. • Gaffron stated a number of questions have been raised tonight and that the ordinance needs a close scrutiny with some case studies being analyzed. Gaffron indicated he would like to avoid having issues come up in the first few months after the ordinance is adopted. Staff will need some additional time to look at it closely and that they can start to look at some of the questions raised by the City Council. Mattick stated he also has not reviewed the draft ordinance carefully but that he did review the tiered system. Mattick indicated he would like to see what led to the judgment call for placing the properties into the different tiers. When someone asks why they are in a certain tier, the City will need to have an answer for them. Mayor McMillan opened the meeting up for public comment at 8:03 p.m. Todd Kimmis, Orono, indicated he has constructed three homes in Orono and that he has resided in the City since 1990. Kimmis indicated he recently purchased a lot on Casco Point and that when he bought the lot, he had assumed he would not have any problems with hardcover. Kimmis indicated it did not take long before he found out that he has some serious hardcover issues and that he is not constructing a big house. With the 0 -75 foot zone not being part of the calculation, he lost out on 12,000 to 14,000 square feet. The lot is 46,000 square feet or 1.1 acre. Kimmis stated when you look at the calculations with the overhangs and retaining walls that were required, he was immediately over the hardcover limit without a deck or a patio. Kimmis commended the City Council for looking at changes to their hardcover regulations. Kimmis indicated he will make sure he does everything that he can to make sure the house is aesthetically pleasing and not harmful to the lake. Kimmis stated he would like the City Council to know that the 0 -75 foot • zone is a killer on certain lots. Mayor McMillan closed the public hearing at 8:07 p.m. Page 11 of 15