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MINUTES OF THE ' <br /> ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING <br /> Monday,September 23,2013 <br /> 7:00 o'clock p.m. <br /> (4. #13-3628 THOMAS POTTER ONBEHALF OFRODNEYAND BARBARA BURWELL, <br /> 1100 MILLSTON ROAD, VARIANCES—RESOL UTION TABLED, Continued) <br /> Levang asked how many stalls the garage would have. <br /> Potter indicated there will be four. <br /> Levang stated the hardship issue is a factor that needs to be taken into consideration on this application. <br /> Bremer asked if there were any public comments regarding the application at the Planning Commission <br /> meeting. <br /> Levang noted it was placed on the Consent Agenda. <br /> Curtis indicated there were no public comments received. <br /> Potter pointed out there is a fair amount of woods on the neighboring property that screens the structure <br /> and that the building is below the maximum height restrictions. <br /> McMillan stated it should not be the obligation of the next door neighbor to provide the screening and <br /> that trees do eventually die. <br /> Thiesse stated he does not want the City Council to get the impression the Planning Commission did not <br /> do their due diligence on this application. Reconfiguring this side loading garage is not possible since it <br /> cannot be reduced down to 20 feet and it cannot be moved forward due to the turning radii. Thiesse <br /> stated the applicants cannot reconfigure that structure in that location. Because of that,there is some <br /> hardship in that the only way it can work is in that location unless it is reconfigured for a different spot on <br /> the property. Thiesse indicated the Planning Commission looked at the application from that standpoint. <br /> Levang asked if what does not work is the four-stall garage. <br /> Thiesse stated loading from that direction does not work since it cannot be reduced down to 18 feet. The <br /> garage either has to be reconfigured to be loaded from a different direction or placed in a different <br /> location. <br /> McMillan stated she does not want to get into designing a new garage <br /> Curtis stated the properly owner had indicated the removal of the existing garage provided more open <br /> space on the property in general and not that another structure could not be constructed there. <br /> Potter stated they are widening up the area by the garages and creating more green space on the property. <br /> Levang stated it still comes down to a practical difficulty. <br /> Bremer stated it would improve the massing appearance and would provide a benefit but that she does <br /> have a concern about it and is in agreement with Mayor McMillan. <br /> Levang stated she concurs as well. <br /> Page 4 of 11 <br />