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MINUTES OF THE <br />ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING <br />Tuesday, February 18, 2014 <br />6:30 o’clock p.m. <br />_____________________________________________________________________________________ <br />  <br />Page 7 of 11  <br />  <br />4. #14-3650 JEFFREY DAVIDSON ON BEHALF OF DONALD AND JOANNE <br />DAVIDSON, 568 KEENE AVENUE, VARIANCE, 7:03 P.M. – 7:07 P.M. <br /> <br />Jeffrey Davidson, Applicant, was present. <br /> <br />Curtis stated the subject property is approximately a half acre lot within the two acre RR-1B District. The <br />house is set back 30 feet from the rear property line where a 50-foot setback is required. Variances were <br />granted at the time of the house construction allowing its location as built. <br /> <br />The applicant is requesting rear yard and side street yard setback variances to construct an 8’ x 14’ <br />addition over an existing second level deck. In October of 2013, the applicant requested a permit from <br />the City in order to construct a second story addition over an existing deck. The deck’s construction <br />created a water issue in the home and the applicant hopes the addition with a roof will alleviate the water <br />issue. A permit could not be issued without variances due to the nonconforming setback. <br /> <br />Curtis displayed photographs of the house and second level deck. Curtis pointed out the deck that would <br />be replaced with the addition. <br /> <br />The applicant’s 112 square foot addition does not propose to increase the existing nonconforming <br />setbacks. The increased mass of the addition will be completely screened by the house from the Keene <br />Avenue and will be relatively hidden from views off the property from the east and south due to existing <br />vegetation. <br /> <br />Staff finds the existing location of the home and the water damage situation to be a practical difficulty. It <br />appears the applicant’s proposal will correct the water leakage issues. A second option for the applicant <br />is to remove the egress doors from the second floor room and construct a sloped roof over the first floor <br />room in place of the deck to correct the leaking. <br /> <br />Planning Staff recommends approval of the variances allowing the 8’ x 14’ addition 41 feet from the rear <br />lot line and 47.9 feet from the south lot line where 50-foot setbacks are required. <br /> <br />Davidson indicated he had nothing to add to Staff’s report. <br /> <br />Chair Leskinen opened the public hearing at 7:05 p.m. <br /> <br />There were no public comments regarding this application. <br /> <br />Chair Leskinen closed the public hearing at 7:05 p.m. <br /> <br />Leskinen noted there are no additional encroachments and the addition is designed to correct the water <br />problem. Leskinen stated in her view it would not create any visual impacts for the neighbors. <br /> <br />Thiesse stated in his view practical difficulty has been shown given the water issues. <br /> <br />Schoenzeit moved, Lemke seconded, to recommend approval of Application No. 14-3650, Jeffrey <br />Davidson on behalf of Donald and Joanne Davidson, 568 Keene Avenue, granting of rear yard and <br />side street yard setback variances in order to construct an 8’ x 14’ addition over an existing second <br />level deck, subject to Staff recommendations. VOTE: Ayes 5, Nays 0. <br />Item #01 - PC Agenda - 03/17/2014 <br />Approval of Planning Commission Minutes 02/18/2014 <br />[Page 7 of 11]