Laserfiche WebLink
Metadata
Document management portal powered by Laserfiche WebLink 9 © 1998-2015 Laserfiche. All rights reserved.
MINUTES OF THE <br />ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING <br />Tuesday, January 21, 2014 <br />6:30 o’clock p.m. <br />_____________________________________________________________________________________ <br />  <br />Page 2 of 26  <br />  <br />approximately 72 feet from the lake where a 75-foot setback is required. Approximately 14 square feet of <br />additional structure within the 75-foot setback is proposed. <br />The applicant’s revised plans also better clarify the existing usable space within the garage. However, <br />Staff continues to find that creating a more nonconforming structure is out of character with the <br />neighborhood. The revised addition adds mass within the eastern side setback area and also within the <br />average lakeshore setback. The applicant has failed to demonstrate that enforcing the provisions of the <br />Zoning Ordinance deprive them of the reasonable use of the property. As a result, Planning Staff <br />continues to recommend denial of the variances. <br /> <br />The Planning Commission should review and discuss the applicant’s revised request as well as the <br />enclosed comments from the neighbor to the east and make a recommendation to the City Council. If the <br />Planning Commission determines that practical difficulties exist which support granting the variances, <br />those practical difficulties should be clearly stated for the record. <br /> <br />Thiesse asked if there is documentation showing the garage at 18 feet currently. <br /> <br />Curtis indicated she is not aware if the packet contains that information. <br /> <br />Gaffron stated the deepest two stalls are at 18 feet. <br /> <br />Lixiao Wang, Applicant, stated he should have taken the Planning Commission’s recommendation the <br />first time, but that he has since revised his plans to six feet when he went before the City Council. Wang <br />stated in his view he would be able to fit a Toyota Corolla or similar type car in that size garage but that <br />he cannot push the car any further forward due to an elevator located in the garage. <br /> <br />Schoenzeit asked if the current house is over 7,000 square feet. <br /> <br />Wang indicated it is. <br /> <br />Thiesse asked what room is located behind the garage and whether the elevator is part of the original <br />garage. <br /> <br />Wang stated to his recollection the elevator was installed because the previous property owner was old <br />and sick, which takes up a portion of the garage. <br /> <br />Thiesse asked what room is behind the portion containing the two-stall garage. <br /> <br />Wang stated there is a furnace and air purification system in that area, which means the garage cannot be <br />extended in that area. Wang stated he may not do anything with the garage if their application is not <br />approved. <br /> <br />Acting Chair Landgraver opened the public hearing at 7:41 p.m. <br /> <br />Francine Delaney, 3150 Farview Lane, stated the applicant knew what the garage was like prior to <br />purchasing the property and that the previous owner was always able to park her cars inside the garage. <br />Delaney noted the existing easement is not being maximized at the present time and that if the variance is <br />granted and more structure is added, in her view additional driveway will be requested due to the <br />difficulty they will have in turning around. <br />Item #01 - PC Agenda - * 02/18/2014 <br />Approval of Planning Commission Minutes 01/21/14 <br />[Page 2 of 26]