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MINUTES OF THE <br />ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING <br />Monday, August 19 2013 <br />6:30 o’clock p.m. <br />_____________________________________________________________________________________ <br />  <br />Page 13 of 28  <br />  <br /> <br />The applicants’ existing home is set back 15.8 feet from the front property line. The applicants are <br />proposing 2 one-story additions to the existing residence. The northern addition will consist of 442 <br />square feet and the addition on the south will be 790 square feet including the new attached garage space. <br />An 83 square foot portion of the existing home will be removed/incorporated into the garage addition. In <br />total, the additions will nearly double the amount of structural coverage on the property but will conform <br />to the 15 percent limitation. <br /> <br />The applicants are also proposing to construct a low, uncovered porch 18 inches above grade along the <br />front of the home. The uncovered porch is proposed to encroach within 9.5 feet of the front property line, <br />which is acceptable if it conforms to the non-encroachments provision for uncovered porches in the <br />Zoning Code. The applicants are also proposing to incorporate a decorative planter/bench element into <br />the porch design. The planter and bench, which will not be an integral part of the porch, will sit on the <br />floor of the porch and be movable. However, it could give the appearance of an additional two feet to the <br />height of the front porch. <br /> <br />Curtis noted the proposed northerly addition will not encroach closer to the rear property line than the <br />existing home. The applicants are proposing an attached garage addition on the south side of the house <br />which is proposed to be set back 19 feet from the rear where a 50-foot setback is required. The garage <br />addition will encroach 19 feet closer to the rear lot line than the existing home. <br /> <br />The existing one-stall detached garage is proposed to be removed. The separation from the adjacent <br />property on the south will be improved with removal of the garage and construction of the addition. <br />However, the addition will still encroach 15 plus feet into the required 30-foot setback. <br /> <br />Staff finds the size and dimensions of the property serve as a practical difficulty with prevents <br />development of this property. The applicants’ existing home is, to a degree, driving the additions. <br />However, it is not possible to construct a home in a conforming location on the property. <br /> <br />Curtis noted one neighbor comment was received today and has been distributed to the Planning <br />Commissioners for inclusion in the record. <br /> <br />Staff recommends approval of the variance as requested. <br /> <br />Landgraver asked if the letter received today was generally supportive of the application. <br /> <br />Curtis indicated it was. <br /> <br />Paul Warner, Applicant, indicated he does not have any additional comments to add to Staff’s report. <br /> <br />Acting Chair Landgraver opened the public hearing at 7:56 p.m. <br /> <br />There were no comments regarding this application. <br /> <br />Acting Chair Landgraver closed the public hearing at 7:56 p.m. <br /> <br />Schoenzeit commented this is a difficult lot. <br /> <br />Item #01 - PC Agenda - 09/16/2013 <br />Approval of Planning Commission Minutes 08/19/2013 [Page 13 of 28]