01-27-2014 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, January 27, 2014 7:00 o’clock p.m. _____________________________________________________________________________________ Page 6 of 32 (4. #13-3636 LIXIAO WANG, 3059 FARVIEW LANE – VARIANCES, Continued) Wang stated if they do not get the third stall, they will be forced to build a two-car detached garage down near the road. Wang stated in his view the garage addition will not block anyone’s view. Wang encouraged the City Council to think about the decision they make today, noting that if the City Council denies this garage addition, he will build another garage near the road and that he will need to cut the trees down in order to construct it. Wang stated in his view the garage addition is the right thing to do and that a detached garage will increase coverage and will require the trees be cut down. McMillan noted the City Council needs a practical difficulty demonstrated in order to grant a variance, and if there is a substandard depth, that would make it nonfunctional and a practical difficulty. McMillan stated a three-car garage is not a practical difficulty and the City Council is attempting to determine the correct depth of the garage. McMillan indicated she is more concerned about making sure the main part of the garage is functional. Wang indicated he understands that point and that the issue is whether he can expand the current garage or whether he will need to construct a detached garage near the road. McMillan noted there is a discrepancy in the two numbers and that the City Council cannot make a firm decision tonight due to that since it impacts whether there is a practical difficulty or not. Wang stated he understands that. McMillan stated the City Council is attempting to figure out a way to address both possible directions depending on the verified number. City Council is attempting to find a way to address that discrepancy and resolve the issue once and for all. Wang noted he has attended a number of meetings and that he and the City Council are wasting a lot of time. McMillan stated the better the information is, the quicker issues can be decided. Wang indicated his builder could verify it when he gets back and that he could have been asked to do that prior to tonight’s meeting. Wang stated he understands what the Council has said, but that the neighbor is complaining about the 75-foot setback. McMillan stated the big concern tonight is the true size of the two-car garage. Francine Delaney, 3051 Farview Lane, noted Mr. Wang keeps stating his cars do not fit in the garage but the previous owner was able to park full-sized BMW sedans in the garage. When the home was originally constructed, it was maxed out on footprint, which is why an easement was granted on their property to accommodate additional driveway. Delaney noted the basketball hoop is actually on her property.