11-14-2016 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING Monday, October 17, 2016 6:30 o'clock p.m. 5. #16-3871 JACOB PIVEC ON BEHALF OF MIKE SETNICKER, 1175 WILLOWBROOK DRIVE, VARIANCE, 6:44 P.M. — 6:50 P.M. Jacob Pivec, Applicant, was present. Curtis stated the applicant is proposing to construct a 1,400 detached garage on their property for storage. The garage is proposed to be set back 50 feet from the front lot line. The home is set back 82 feet. Because an accessory building must not be located closer to the street than the principal building, a variance is necessary. All other setbacks and zoning requirements are met. The property is approximately 5.5 acres in area. Given the size of the lot, a single oversized accessory structure with a maximum of 2,200 square feet is permitted. The applicants are proposing a 1,400 square foot garage. Curtis noted Staff's report inadvertently omitted the hardcover calculations for this property. The hardcover for the garage is proposed to be at 3.7 percent. The building official has conducted a preliminary septic analysis for the project and he has requested additional information from the applicant to ensure that the project will not impact the existing or future sites. The building official's comments are included in the Planning Commission packet. Staff would require that information be confirmed prior to the issuance of a building permit. The Planning Commission may wish to discuss the practical difficulty analysis contained in Staff's report. The applicant should be asked for additional testimony regarding the application as well. Staff finds the location and orientation of the existing home, the septic sites, and topography of the property make locating a conforming accessory structure difficult. It appears the impact of the 1,400 square foot garage would be mitigated by both the existing wooded areas and the separation between the building and the homes on adjacent properties. Neighbor comments were received and are included in the Planning Commission's packet. Staff recommends approval of the variance in conjunction with the property owners agreeing to the oversized accessory structure covenants to be recorded against the property. The Planning Commission had no questions for Staff.