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� <br /> MINUTES OF THE <br /> ORONO PLANNING COMIVIISSION MEETING <br /> Monday,July 18,2011 <br /> 6:30 o'clock p.m. <br /> The applicant requests a setback variance from the rear lot line to allow a 9.7 foot setback where a 10-foot � <br /> setback is required. The proposed garage will meet the 10-foot side yard setback and the 10-foot setback <br /> required between siructures. <br /> Staff finds practical di�culties with respect to the rear or street yard setback variance. The shallowness <br /> � of the property combined with the location of the existing home results in a practical difficulty not created <br /> by the applicant. T he properties immediately adjacent to the applicant's property have detached garages. <br /> The applicant's proposal appears to be in harmony with the neighborhood. The nature of the street/road <br /> situation for these six lots is a private,dead-end frontage road which runs parallel to Shadywood <br /> . Road/CSAH 19. The access is nearly across from Sunset Drive. The applicant's request for a setback <br /> variance does not appear to have a negative effect on light,air and open space enjoyed by the adjacent <br /> property owner,nor does it appear to create a safety issue with the frontage road. � <br /> As it relates to the hardcover variance requests, Staff finds that although the property currently exceeds <br /> allowed hardcover levels and reductions are proposed, further reductions could be found. Staff suggests <br /> the applicant's request for the reorganization of lakeside decks and patios be revised to accommodate <br /> additional hardcover removals. Areas shown on the survey and hardcover worksheets as landscaping to <br /> remain should be evaluated and possibly further reduced or removed. Removal of the decks and/or patios <br /> from the lake yard would reduce the 0-75 foot hardcover by 615 square feet. Removal of the landscaping <br /> in the 0-75 foot zone reduces it 350 square feet further for a total of 13 percent hardcover versus 25.5 <br /> percent as proposed. Minimal landings are required outside of each exterior door. Additionally,the <br /> applicant continues to propose 1,150 square feet of landscape hardcover within the 75-250 foot zone. It <br /> remains unclear to Staff is this landscape area is lined with plastic or fabric,but it should be removed. <br /> Removal of the landscape areas will bring the 75-250 foot zone hardcover level to 43.5 percent as <br /> opposed to 62.2 percent as proposed. <br /> The applicant's proposal exceeds the 15 percent structural coverage allowance by 324 square feet. The <br /> existing level exceeds this allowance by 183 square feet. It is possible the proposed garage could be <br /> reduced and still result in a functional garage for the properiy owner. A 24'x 24'garage is a reasonably <br /> sized garage which can accommodate two vehicles plus miscellaneous storage. Reducing the garage to <br /> 22'x 22'reduces functionality, only saves 92 squaze feet, and still results in a 1.6 percent overage on <br /> structural coverage. Due to the property's size, Staff finds practical difficulties with respect to the level of <br /> structural coverage allowed. Because the setback from the side lot line and home are met,the additional <br /> square footage requested do not appear to limit the light, air and open space afforded to the adjacent <br /> property owner. � <br /> Issues for consideration: <br /> 1. Does the Planning Commission find that the property owner proposes to use the property in a <br /> reasonable manner which is not permitted by an of�cial control? <br /> 2. Does the Planning Commission find that the variances,if granted,will not alter the essential <br /> character of the neighborhood? � <br /> 3. Does the Planning Commission find it necessary to impose conditions to order to mitigate the <br /> impacts created by the granting of the requested variances? <br /> Page 3 <br />