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MINUTES OF THE <br />ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING <br />Monday, November 18, 2013 <br />6:30 o’clock p.m. <br />_____________________________________________________________________________________ <br />  <br />Page 25 of 35  <br />  <br />Planning Staff recommends approval with the following conditions: <br /> <br />1. Second story to be at least 10 feet from the side lot line; <br /> <br />2. The footprint to be up to the 50 foot front yard setback to minimize the wetland encroachment; <br /> <br />3. Footprint size limited to less than 15% and is currently proposed at 9.7%; <br /> <br />4. Establishment of additional wetland buffer to mitigate the wetland encroachment(s). <br /> <br />Landgraver asked if it would be better for the Planning Commission to defer to the Watershed District on <br />the wetland setback. <br /> <br />Curtis stated the applicant is proposing a 23-foot setback from a portion of the wetland, and if a buffer is <br />required, there will be a 25-foot buffer. The applicant will likely have to adjust his plans based on that <br />25-foot distance. While the City does not require a buffer, it would be reasonable, as part of this <br />application, to require buffering on this property. <br /> <br />Thiesse asked whether the applicant would be outside the 25-foot buffer if the house is moved forward <br />towards the road. <br /> <br />Curtis stated to her knowledge it would be. <br /> <br />John Brunello, Applicant, stated the reason he wanted to keep the 3.6 foot side setback is because the <br />topography of the site forces a person to construct on the highest portion of the site, which is where the <br />present home is located. Brunello indicated he does not have room for a three-car garage but that a <br />two-car garage could be constructed with a tandem. Presently the garage is five feet away from the road. <br />Brunello stated he is giving up some on the garage to gain some with the house. <br /> <br />Brunello stated he does not want to go too far forward because he does not want to crowd the road and <br />that he would rather have the house as far back to the west as possible. <br /> <br />Thiesse asked what the ramifications are if the house is moved six feet over and five feet up. <br /> <br />Brunello stated in his view the home would be in a lower spot. <br /> <br />Thiesse noted the red floodplain line is two-tenths higher than the house, which is essentially flat. <br />Thiesse stated if the house is moved over, the northerly face of the house will not drop any and will <br />remain at basically the same elevation. <br /> <br />Brunello stated one of the main concerns was the possibility of having to do pilings the further the house <br />is moved over. Brunello indicated he does have some experience with foundations and that he knows the <br />more the house is moved to the north, the more costly it will be to do the foundation. Brunello indicated <br />he is also not sure at the present time whether a basement can even be built with this house. <br /> <br />Thiesse asked what the applicant’s thoughts are on a 10-foot setback for the second story on the right- <br />hand side. <br /> <br />Item #01 - PC Agenda - 01/21/14* <br />Approval of Planning Commission Minutes 11/18/2013 <br />[Page 25 of 35]