08-15-2016 Planning Commission Packet

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING Monday,July18,2016 6:30 o'clock p.m. 3. #16-3845 TIM DRUK, 1240 ARBOR STREET,VARIANCES, 6:43 P.M.—6:50 P.M. Tim Druk, Applicant, was present. Gaffron stated the applicant is requesting variances for lot area and lot width as well as side yard, side street, and front yard setback in order to construct a new single-family residence on this vacant property located in the Crystal Bay neighborhood. The property is less than 100 feet wide and consists of less than one-half acre in size. The front setback variance is for a setback of 20.4 feet for the porch, with the bulk of the house being located 26 feet from the street lot line. This setback is generally in line with the existing house to the immediate north and is typical of many other lots in the neighborhood. The need for the shortened setback may have to do with the topography of the lot and its relation to the `lookout' configuration. Normally a 50-foot setback would be required. As it relates to the side setbacks, the applicant is requesting 25 feet and 23 feet to place the house generally in the center of the lot, which will help avoid visual crowding in the neighborhood. Typically a 30-foot setback would be required. The only issue Staff has with this application is whether or not there should be a greater front setback. In a half-acre zone, normally there would be a 30-foot setback. Part of the rationale for that is to enable off- street parking. In this case, the actual paved road is approximately 45 feet from the front of the garage, so off-street parking would be available. Staff recommends approval of the requested variances. Schoenzeit asked if there has ever been a house on this property. Gaffron stated to his knowledge, based on some aerial photographs taken back in the 1930s,there has not been, but that the property was assessed for sewer in 1985 anticipating that it would probably be built on at some point. Lemke stated it looks like on the plan that the proposed house is set back almost the same as the house next door and that there is no reason why it could not be pushed further back. Gaffron stated it is possible that it could be pushed further back but that that is a question for the applicant. Tim Druk, Applicant, stated he had nothing to add to Staff's report. Olson asked if there is a reason why the driveway is proposed in the location it is. Druk stated it was to keep it away from the corner on the left side of the house and to line it up with the neighbor's house. Lemke asked why the house was not pushed back further. Druk indicated they were attempting to line it up with the neighbor's house. Page 3 of 19