03-17-2014 Planning Commission Packet

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING Tuesday, February 18, 2014 6:30 o’clock p.m. _____________________________________________________________________________________ Page 1 of 11 ROLL CALL The Orono Planning Commission met on the above-mentioned date with the following members present: Chair Denise Leskinen, Commissioners Bruce Lemke, Loren Schoenzeit, and John Thiesse. Representing Staff were Assistant City Administrator of Long-Term Strategic Planning Michael Gaffron, Planning Coordinator Melanie Curtis, and Recorder Jackie Young. City Council Member Cynthia Bremer was present. Commissioner Christopher McGrann arrived at 6:36 p.m. Chair Leskinen called the meeting to order at 6:34 p.m., followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. CONSENT AGENDA Schoenzeit moved, Thiesse seconded, to approve the Consent Agenda as submitted. VOTE: Ayes 4, Nays 0. NEW BUSINESS 2. #14-3648 BEN GOODWIN, 565 LEAF STREET AND 550 OXFORD ROAD, VARIANCE, 6:35 P.M. – 6:55 P.M. Ben Goodwin, Applicant, was present. Curtis stated the applicant’s property at 565 Leaf Street and the neighboring property at 550 Oxford Road abuts the Woods Chapel property located at 525 Leaf Street. The Woods Chapel is a church and also operates as a wedding facility. The applicant is requesting approval of a variance to allow an 8-foot tall fence to be constructed along his north side property line connecting to the rear yard area of the McCarthy property on Oxford. Within the rear and side yard setback areas, a maximum fence height of six feet is allowed. The proposed fence would replace an existing fence on the property line of 565 Leaf Street and would be a new fence on the 550 Oxford Road property. Accessory structures are subject to setbacks and other performance standards as defined in the City’s Zoning Code. Accessory structures are defined as a use or a structure subordinate to or serving the principal use or structure on the same lot and customarily incidental to the principal use or structure. Fences are an allowed accessory structure and are generally considered to be a non-encroachment to setback requirements. Fences are permitted up to six feet in height beyond the front yard principal structure setback line and within the side and rear yards of non-lakeshore lots. Fences which exceed the non-encroachment height limitation must meet an accessory structure setback of at least ten feet and are subject to a building permit. Staff has visited the sites and observed the elevation differences between the subject properties and the proposed fence locations. It appears as though the requested fence height in the proposed location will not offer a considerable amount of visual screening of the Woods Chapel property from the 565 Leaf Street property. On the McCarthy property, it appears there are existing improvements attributable to the Woods Chapel which extend across the property line and the fence may offer some visual screening from those features and the elevation of the McCarthy property is a little more level. Item #01 - PC Agenda - 03/17/2014 Approval of Planning Commission Minutes 02/18/2014 [Page 1 of 11]