02-28-1977 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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� ., � . ORONO COUNCIL MEETING HELD FEBRUARY 28, 1977 Page 20 � The tax base for the City would be increased to LETTER - GARY PETERSEN the benefit of the community. Moreover, the 3545 Ivy Place � house Mr. Petersen plans to build on the property (Continued) is a quality house which would increase the ` property value of the surrounding lots. � Not only would the variance enhance the welfare � of the community, but it would have no adverse effect. Since sewer and water is in, there � would be no pollution or environmental concern. It obstructs no one' s view of the lake. In fact, � the houses across the alley all face the lake • and most have their garages and fences along the alley. Mr. Petersen has spoken with several � of the neighboring property owners and none have expressed any concern or objections about his � proposed house. � The only legitimate concern the City has expressed is their planning objective, which, if analyzed, � is not significant in this case. One must � remember that this whole neighborhood was platted in 1885 and developed years before the City even � envisioned a zoning code. The character of the neighborhood was set in 1885 and firr.11y established � in the first half of this century when the hornes were built on this property. While this neighborhood • may not conform with contemporary planning standards � of lot size and width, this is not a modernly de-signed neighborhood. The character and design � of this neighborhood were struck in the early 1900' s when this property was platted and developed. � Al1 the lots, except P4r. Petersen' s , are 50-foot lots. As noted earlier, I�ir. Petersen' s lot is • the largest of the subdivision. Unfortunately, this size lot was standard when this subdivision � was platted and develped. I 'm sure everyone wishes� � that the _ lots were bigger and that the subdivision were planned differently, but that is ir.ipossible � to do at this late date. It is not practical to impose 1977 planning objectives on a lot which � � is part of a subdivision and neighborhood which was planned and developed according to planning � objectives in 1900. Refusing to allo�v Mr. Petersen • to build on the lot or reguiring him to somehow ' purchase additional land, which r,►ay not even be � available, will not aid the planning objective in that subdivision. Any larger lot would stick � out like a sore thur_ib and not be in conformance with the character of the neighborhood. Planning a objectives must be realistic and should take into consideration the average lot size and general � character of the neighborhood. P4r. Petersen' s lot is larger than the average lot in that sub- division and is in conformance with the general � character, use and plan of the neighborhood and should not be denied a variance. (Continued) � �