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MINUTES OF THE <br />ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING <br />Monday, April 23, 2007 <br />7:00 o’clock p.m. <br />___________________________________________________________________________________ <br /> <br />(#06-3245 Michael and Karen Maney, Continued) <br />Turner stated Staff did not have a demolition plan and that the letter from the structural engineer was <br />later found to not be based on an actual site visit but written on a theoretical basis. <br />Rahn stated in his opinion, if all the wood is going to be replaced, this application should start over <br />because it would have been looked at in a different light. <br />Murphy stated based on the amount of work being proposed, he is in agreement with Council Member <br />Rahn and that this application should go back to the Planning Commission. <br />White stated it is clear this is a rebuild rather than a remodeling project. <br />Bremer stated the difference between this and the Walters Port Lane property is that the Council took <br />into consideration that Staff had issued the building permit without all the appropriate documentation <br />having been submitted. Bremer stated this application is like an after-the-fact variance request in that <br />the Council is being put in a position of trying to decide how they would have dealt with this situation <br />had it been presented as a rebuild in the first place. <br />McMillan stated any time you are dealing with trying to utilize old foundations, there are a lot of <br />variables and that the City needs to take a firmer position on these type of projects. McMillan stated <br />this lot is a hardship lot and that she has some doubts about how much would be able to be changed. <br />Maney distributed a memorandum to the Council regarding his application. Maney stated they are <br />prepared to move forward with the plan that has been approved by the Council and that it was their <br />intention to determine the exact condition of the foundation prior to commencing the project. Maney <br />commented it is sometimes difficult to anticipate all the variables that go with a remodeling project and <br />that based upon some limited excavation that has been done on the site, it was determined that the house <br />was constructed on pilings and that there are poor soils on the site. <br />Maney stated they are not proposing to end up with anything different from their approved house except <br />to replace the existing walls and floor with new walls and floor. <br />Sharratt stated they did have a number of meetings with Staff and it was discussed during those <br />meetings that they wanted to utilize the existing foundation. Staff had asked whether the owners really <br />wanted to retain the existing first floor walls and there was no mention of a percentage being mentioned <br />for when the project constitutes a rebuild versus a remodel. Sharratt stated if necessary, they will leave <br />the existing walls and foundation and simply re-enforce them to support the addition. <br />Maney noted they have not started any demolition at this time. <br />Sharratt stated they completed their floor plans with the idea that the first floor walls would be replaced. <br />Sharratt noted their application process has taken a considerable amount of time and the closing on the <br />property did not occur until January. A limited amount of excavation on the site was done as soon as <br /> <br />PAGE 3 <br />Item #02 - CC Agenda - 05/14/07 <br />Approval of Council Minutes 4/23/07 [Page 3 of 15]