01/18/2010 Planning Commission Minutes

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING Monday,January 18,2010 6:30 o'clock p.m. *7. #10-3439 SEAN AND MARIE McLEAN,25 CYGNET PLACE—SETBACK VARIANCE Berg moved,Schoenzeit seconded,to recommend approval of Application#10-3439, Sean and Marie McLean,25 Cygnet Place,granting of a setback variance. VOTE: Ayes 6,Nays 0. 8. #10-3440 ROBERT AND MARY SANSEVERE,745 ORCHARD PARK ROAD, VARIANCE,7:17 P.M.—7:36 P.M. Bob and Mary Sansevere,Applicants,were present. Curtis stated the applicants are requesting a variance in order to construct an additional oversized(3,000 square foot) accessory structure on their property where one oversized accessory structure exists and only one oversized structure is permitted. The applicants would like to construct a 3,000 square foot riding arena on their property in order to allow for year-round training of their miniature horses. There also is a 1200 square foot barn on the property. The property contains two wetland areas, is bordered by Orchard Park Road on the east and County Road 6 on the north. The applicants have been searching for a solution that will allow for a year-round indoor training area on their property. Taking the existing 1200 square foot barn into account, they would be allowed to construct 4-5 smaller buildings, each up to 999 square feet, on their property. While this would not fully achieve their goal of a completely enclosed arena,the applicants considered a configuration whereby the buildings could be aligned in a circle 10 feet apart to allow for intermittent lengths of protected space or a tunnel for the horses to run through. The property consists of nine plus acres and is permitted a total of 6,000 square feet of accessory structure. The property contains two acres of Manage 2 classification wetlands. Manage 2 wetlands require a 25-foot buffer and a 20-foot structural setback from the buffer. It is not feasible to conduct an accurate wetland delineation during the winter months. However,John Smyth,the City's wetland consultant,visited the site and placed flags along a conservative wetland boundary line. The applicants have shown their proposed building exceeding the required 45 foot setback from both wetland areas. The City can collect an escrow with a building permit issued in the winter months which will provide the guarantee and security needed to assure that the wetland ordinance is adhered to when the weather permits. This project may trigger the wetland buffer requirement. Planning Staff recommends approval of a variance to allow an additional oversized accessory structure to be constructed on the property with any additional conditions the Planning Commission deems appropriate. Curtis illustrated on the overhead the location of the house and the proposed barn on the overhead. Schoenzeit asked if the exterior materials and colors would be required to match the main residence. Curtis indicated this proposal would not fall under that code since the property consists of over two acres. The Planning Commission could require that as a condition of approval. Sansevere indicated they would attempt to match the other existing pole barn since that structure is closer to the proposed barn than Page 7