12-09-2013 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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� MINUTES OF THE ' ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday,December 9,2013 6:30 o'clock p.m. (8. #13-3636 LIXIAO WANG, 3059 FARVIEW LANE— VARIANCES, Continued) The applicant's revised detailed garage plans better clarify the existing usable space within the garage. However, Staff continues to find that creating a more nonconforming structure is out of character with the neighborhood. The revised addition adds mass within the eastern side setback area and also within the average lakeshore setback. The applicant has failed to demonstrate that enforcing the provisions of the Zoning Ordinance deprive them of the reasonable use of the property. Staff continues to recommend denial of the variances. The City Council should consider the applicant's revised proposal. Lixiao Wang, Applicant, stated he is proposing a 9-foot garage addition and that he has just recently purchased the property. Wang indicated their first project was connecting to city sewer and that they then decided that a three-car garage would better fit their needs. Wang stated they initially proposed a 12-foot garage addition, which the Planning Commission recommended be reduced. Wang indicated their revised plans call for a 6-foot garage addition, which would allow them to fit a small vehicle inside the garage as well as provide space for their other two vehicles. McMillan noted she attended the November Planning Commission meeting and that a number of the Commissioners recommended the garage addition be reduced down to six feet. McMillan stated she understands that an 18-foot garage does not leave a lot of extra room but that she is not sure whether that is a practical difficulty. McMillan indicated one of the concerns she has is the rooftop deck since it is located in front of the average lakeshore setback. McMillan stated aliowing the 18-foot garage might be a practical difficuity but that the rooftop deck is not. Wang stated they would be willing to remove the deck. Anderson stated she does not support this application whatsoever and that in her view the nonconformity should not be increased. Anderson stated to a certain extent this is somewhat of a self-imposed hardship since the applicant has just recently purchased the property and knew what type of vehicles he owned and the size of the garage. Anderson indicated she did visit the site and that in her view there is room up by the road for a garage that might accommodate their needs. Anderson noted there currently is an encroachment into the average lakeshore setback and the 30-foot setback. Curtis indicated there is a spot up by the road that would be out of the wetland and meet the setbacks for a detached accessory building. Levang stated at the Planning Commission meeting the inability to have a turnout or an area for backing out was also discussed. Curtis stated part of the applicant's driveway exists via an easement over the property line. One of the concerns Staff had is that expanding the structure gave them less maneuverability in that area. Page 11 of 35