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Council Exhibit D MINUTES OF THE <br />ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING <br />Monday, July 18, 2016 <br />6:30 o’clock p.m. <br />____________________________________________________________________________________ <br /> <br />Page 1 of 1 <br /> <br />6. #16-3849 ABLE ENERGY COMPANY ON BEHALF OF TOM ROBB, 570 BIG ISLAND, <br />VARIANCE, 8:04 P.M. – 8:11 P.M. <br /> <br />Tom Robb, Applicant, was present. <br /> <br />Curtis stated the applicant is requesting a side yard setback and average lakeshore setback variance in <br />order to install solar panels on the roof of the existing cabin on the property. The existing 1950s cabin on <br />the property is situated as close as 1.2 feet from the west side lot line, which is the undeveloped right -of- <br />way to the lake and 64 feet lakeward of the average lakeshore setback based on the cabin at 560 Big <br />Island. <br /> <br />The applicant is proposing to install flush-mounted solar panels on the roof of the existing cabin. City <br />Code allows roof-mounted solar panels on the roof of a structure meeting all the required setbacks. The <br />required setback from a right-of-way on Big Island is 30 feet; therefore, variances are required in addition <br />to the average lakeshore setback variance. <br /> <br />Staff finds that due to the code requirement for solar panels and the existing cabin in a nonconforming <br />location, there is not a conforming way for the applicant to install solar panels on the property. Solar <br />panels will not be visually intrusive to the neighboring properties or when viewed from the lake. No <br />public comments have been received to date. <br /> <br />Staff recommends approval of the request. <br /> <br />Schoenzeit noted it is not expanding the roof area but is putting something on a house in a nonconforming <br />spot. <br /> <br />Curtis indicated that is correct. <br /> <br />Schoenzeit stated it is an allowed use on a house and it would not be extending over the roof area. <br /> <br />Tom Robb, Applicant, stated he is the property owner of 570 Big Island. Robb stated he would like to <br />install the solar panels on the roof of the cabin. Robb stated the reason the cabin is located where it is is <br />because they only owned the one lot at the time it was rebuilt and they acquired the other two lots later <br />on. Robb stated there was a pre-existing cabin in that location that was replaced. <br /> <br />Robb stated the solar panels will occupy approximately half of the roof area. <br /> <br />Acting Chair Lemke opened the public hearing at 8:10 p.m. <br /> <br />There were no public comments related to this application. <br /> <br />Acting Chair Lemke closed the public hearing at 8:10 p.m. <br /> <br />McGrann moved, Leskinen seconded, to recommend approval of Application No. 16-3849, Able <br />Energy Company on behalf of Tom Robb, 570 Big Island, granting of a side yard setback and <br />average lakeshore setback in order to install solar panels on the roof of the existing cabin, per <br />Staff’s recommendation. VOTE: Ayes 6, Nays 0. <br />