07-15-2013 Planning Commission Packet

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING Monday, June 17, 2013 6:30 o’clock p.m. _____________________________________________________________________________________ Page 3 of 9 with the City’s goal to reduce hardcover near the lake. However, Staff does not find practical difficulty inherent to the property to support the requests to exceed hardcover or structural coverage limitations. The applicants should be required to reduce their plans accordingly. Planning Staff recommends approval of the CUP for the work within the 0 to 75 foot zone including the walls, stair and flagstone “landings”. If the Planning Commission finds practical difficulties exist, a recommendation for approval of the requested average lakeshore setback variance would be appropriate. Staff does not find practical difficulties to support the hardcover variance or the structural coverage variance and recommends denial of these variances. Leskinen asked if the applicant has submitted any proposed hardcover removals. Curtis indicated she has not received anything. Barbara Goodwin, Applicant, thanked Melanie Curtis for all her help on this application. Goodwin indicated they would like to construct their dream house and they were attracted to this site given its location on the lake. The existing house has a number of issues, which is why they would like to construct a new residence that would fit in with the rest of the neighborhood. The current garage is a tuck-under garage and being proposed is construction of a new garage to be on the same level as the house so they can enter the house from the garage and improve the drainage. One of the other improvements is to improve the safety of the driveway by changing the grade of the driveway. The driveway currently curves towards the property and goes down the hill, which limits the sightlines out on to the road. Moving the home back as far as possible would help improve the sight lines. The existing house also has mechanical and serious water issues. The property’s lake views are compromised by the large tennis court fence that adjoins the property. Goodwin stated when they purchased the property, they expected to be able to construct a house in line with the other houses on the road. The majority of homes on the point are located along the red line shown on the overhead. Goodwin indicated they met with the neighbor to the north and have attempted to create a plan that works for the neighbors as well as minimize the view of the tennis court. Curtis displayed a picture on the overhead showing the tennis court. Goodwin indicated they created a plan that would butt that side of the home out further and then steps back, which would make the home further away from the lake. The proposed house will be six feet further away from the neighbor’s house. The other issue with the property is the lake front, which is in disarray and consists of a number of railroad ties. Goodwin stated they would like to remove all the railroad ties, the wooden deck. stabilize the lake front, and plant native vegetation in that area. When the first plan was submitted, it was determined by Staff to be over the City’s hardcover and structural coverage limits. The latest plan has reduced the hardcover and structural coverages down to acceptable limits. Those plans have just been completed late this afternoon and have not yet been submitted to Staff. The goal is to create a home that resembles a classic Lake Minnetonka home and fits the neighborhood. Goodwin noted they are now only requesting the setback variance in order to minimize the view of the tennis court. Landgraver asked where the reduction in hardcover came from. Item #01 - PC Agenda - 07/15/2013 Approval of Planning Commission Minutes 06/17/13 [Page 3 of 9]