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MINUTES OF THE <br />ORONO CITY PLANNING COMMISSION <br />Monday, October 21, 2013 <br />6:30 o’clock p.m. <br />_____________________________________________________________________________________ <br />  <br />Page 20 of 42  <br />  <br />Leskinen indicated she has no issues with the application. <br /> <br />Schoenzeit moved, Thiesse seconded, to recommend approval of Application No. 13-3635, Dale <br />Peterson and Gail Ledstrom, 3515 and 3465 Sixth Avenue North, vacation of Rocky Knoll Drive, <br />and to recommend cross-easement be required. VOTE: Ayes 7, Nays 0. <br /> <br />8. #13-3636 LIXIAO WANG, 3059 FARVIEW LANE, VARIANCES, 8:21 P.M. – 8:38 P.M. <br /> <br />Lixiao Wang, Applicant, was present. <br /> <br />Curtis stated the applicant is requesting variances in order to construct a 12’ x 34’ one-level garage <br />addition to the home. The applicant recently purchased the subject property and wishes to make some <br />structural additions to better accommodate vehicle parking. <br /> <br />Curtis noted there is a small portion of the southwest side of the home that currently encroaches into the <br />75-fot setback. The retaining walls located at the entry and the northeast corner of the home currently <br />encroach into the required 30-foot setback. The applicant’s home is situated entirely ahead of the average <br />lakeshore setback line. <br /> <br />The garage addition is proposed to be constructed over existing driveway hardcover resulting in 36 square <br />feet of additional hardcover for 11.8 percent total for the site where 25 percent is allowed. The proposed <br />garage addition at 19.7 feet will encroach ten feet into the required 30-foot side yard setback. The garage <br />portion of the home currently meets this setback. The existing retaining wall and access stair are set back <br />only 13 feet from the side lot line and a corner of the home also encroaches 1.4 feet into the side setback <br />area. <br /> <br />The proposed garage addition is to be constructed by extending the lakeside wall of the home toward the <br />east. Due to the angle of the home and the lakeshore, the resulting setback for the addition will be 72.1 <br />feet from the lake where a 75-foot setback is required. Approximately 42 square feet of additional <br />structure within the 75-foot setback is proposed. <br /> <br />Due to the large wetland on the property, the entire home is situated ahead of the average lakeshore <br />setback. Curtis stated it seems apparent that the additions or modifications that were done over the years <br />were done in an attempt to be respectful of the side yard setback and lake. <br /> <br />The proposed addition results in more massing within the east side yard setback area and within the <br />average lakeshore setback, which may impact views of the lake currently enjoyed by the adjacent owner. <br />Staff finds that the applicant has failed to demonstrate a reasonable practical difficulty supporting <br />additional structure within the 75-foot setback area. In addition, the applicant has failed to demonstrate <br />that enforcing the provisions of the Zoning Ordinance would deprive them of the reasonable use of the <br />property. For these reasons, Planning Staff recommends denial of the variances. <br /> <br />Andy Schrader, Schrader & Companies, stated he is here to answer any questions the Planning <br />Commission may have. <br /> <br />Lixiao Wang stated the current structure is 18 feet deep and was built many years ago. Wang indicated <br />the garage does not accommodate their vehicles and that he has to leave his truck and SUV outside. <br />Wang stated he also owns three cars and that he only has a two-car garage. Wang stated those are the <br />Item #01 - PC Agenda - 11/18/2013 <br />Approval of Planning Commission Minutes 10/21/2013 <br />[Page 20 of 42]