09-15-2014 Planning Commission Packet

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING Monday, August 18, 2014 6:30 o’clock p.m. _____________________________________________________________________________________ Page 25 of 33 9. #14-3680 NATURAL LANDSCAPE MINNESOTA, INC., ON BEHALF OF BRAD AND PAT CLEVELAND, 4315 NORTH SHORE DRIVE, CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT AND VARIANCE, 8:47 P.M. – 8:52 P.M. Curtis sated the property owners are in the process of constructing a new home on the site. The applicant is requesting conditional use permit approval to conduct minor land alterations within 75 feet of the lake for a redesigned lake access path, including in-grade stairs. As part of the project, the existing in-grade deteriorated wooden path/staircase will be removed and replaced with a new blue stone and flagstone staircase and pathway. Including the stair walk, the hardcover on the property will be below 25 percent. Hardcover calculations include 692 square feet of hardcover existing within the 0-75 plus the proposed 158 square foot portion of the new stair within 75 feet. The total stair hardcover is 813 square feet with the path up around the patio area. The City code indicates that a CUP is required to prior to engaging in activities that include fill, elevating or altering the existing natural grade. The conditionally permitted uses must be reviewed against the criteria found in Sections 78-916 and 78-1286 of the City Code. Staff has reviewed the application against the conditional use permit criteria and has provided an analysis within the Staff report of the relevant criteria. Staff believes the proposed grading within the 75-foot setback will have no impact on surrounding lands. Drainage patterns for runoff leaving the site are not proposed to be altered. The proposed grading within the 0-75 foot zone has been designed to minimize environmental impacts. An engineering review has not been conducted as of yet for the stairs specifically. Curtis indicated several of the elements on the property have changed throughout the construction of the new house and the City Engineer has reviewed the plan a number of times but he will review it again prior to placement on the Council agenda for their review. Any engineering issues must be addressed with an administrative permit to construct the stairs. Planning Staff recommends approval of the conditional use permit for the earth work within the 75-foot setback area to construct the pathway/stair system conditioned upon the following: 1. A revised landscape plan should be submitted which offers screening of the stairs in a natural way; 2. Conformance with the City Engineer’s forthcoming comments will be required. Curtis noted the applicant has provided a fairly extensive landscape plan but that it was lacking any landscaping around the stairs. Staff would like to see a plan that incorporates screening or vegetation around the stair system to help screen it from the lake. The Planning Commissioners had no questions for Staff. Curtis stated she does not believe the applicant is present this evening. Chair Leskinen opened the public hearing at 8:51 p.m. There were no public comments regarding this application. Chair Leskinen closed the public hearing at 8:51 p.m. Item #01 - PC Agenda - 09/15/2014 Approval of Planning Commission Minutes [Page 25 of 33]