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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 21 of 42  <br />  <br />reasons why he would like to extend the garage. Wang noted they are not extending the height of the <br />garage but just the length. <br />Wang stated in his opinion the proposal will not affect anyone’s view on the east side. Wang stated he is <br />requesting the encroachment into the 75-foot setback area since the proposal would not work otherwise. <br /> <br />Chair Leskinen opened the public hearing at 8:27 p.m. <br /> <br />There were no public comments regarding this application. <br /> <br />Chair Leskinen closed the public hearing at 8:27 p.m. <br /> <br />Thiesse stated in his view an 18-foot garage is a practical difficulty but that he is not sure whether <br />extending the garage 12 feet is the answer and that perhaps six feet would be more reasonable. Thiesse <br />noted a pickup or a Suburban will not fit in an 18-foot garage. <br /> <br />Leskinen indicated she visited the site and that in her view 12 feet is too much. Leskinen stated she is not <br />sure if there is any spot for a detached garage on the property but that is one option that could be <br />considered. <br /> <br />Thiesse noted the existing garage is not practical in his opinion and that extending the garage would help. <br /> <br />Landgraver asked whether a detached garage could be located on the property. <br /> <br />Curtis indicated the wooded area is dry buildable area and that the applicant could locate a detached <br />structure between the street and the house. Curtis stated there is ample room to locate a 1200 square foot <br />detached garage on the property. <br /> <br />Lemke asked if Staff would be fine with a 6-foot extension and whether that would solve the problem. <br /> <br />Curtis stated in Staff’s opinion it would not. <br /> <br />Leskinen stated the issue she is struggling with, given the fact that this is a new owner of the property, is <br />that perhaps the applicant should have thought of that prior to purchase the property. Leskinen stated she <br />is not sure how a person would be able to turn around with that large of an addition on the garage. <br /> <br />Curtis stated with the way the property is currently situated, the applicant does have a driveway easement <br />that extends onto the property to the east. Curtis stated even with the extension of the driveway, it would <br />be difficult to back up and turn around with another car in the driveway. Curtis noted the garage addition <br />does take up a portion of the driveway and reduces maneuverability. Curtis stated it is a long driveway to <br />back out of. <br /> <br />Thiesse commented it is also a long driveway to walk up to the garage. <br /> <br />Schoenzeit stated given the fact that the garage is a single-story, there is some reasonableness in the <br />request, but that he agrees 12 feet is too much. Schoenzeit concurred that an 18-foot garage is not <br />functional and that perhaps an acceptable solution could be reached. <br /> <br />McGrann asked if the City has received any comments from the neighbors. <br />Item #01 - PC Agenda - 11/18/2013 <br />Approval of Planning Commission Minutes 10/21/2013 <br />[Page 21 of 42]