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MINUTES OF THE <br /> ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING <br /> Monday,September 18,2017 <br /> 6:30 o'clock p.m. <br /> Delton noted City ordinance requires an acre to build and that this lot is less than a quarter acre. In <br /> addition,the lot tends to be very wet since a lot of runoff goes into that lot currently, and there is standing <br /> water on the lot after it rains. Delton noted the City should have received letters from two of the <br /> neighbors that the Planning Commission can review. <br /> In addition, setback will be a problem for two of the adjoining properties. Delton stated currently all of <br /> the houses are set back and then there will be this house sitting right next to the lake. Delton stated he can <br /> remember when the original people purchased it and they were told it was an unbuildable lot. The new <br /> property owner bought it a couple of years ago knowing it was an unbuildable lot. Delton stated he <br /> understands the City can change ordinances to make lots more buildable, but if you look at the <br /> neighborhood,the house does not fit. <br /> Nancy Delton, 1535 Orchard Beach Place, stated in her view the lot is simply too small to build on and <br /> that she is concerned about the runoff into the lake if a house is built on this lot. Delton stated the <br /> proposal goes against all the City's criteria and requires variances to allow building on such a small lot. <br /> Chair Thiesse closed the public hearing at 7:17 p.m. <br /> Lemke stated in his view the lot is not buildable and that the imposition on the neighbors is too great. <br /> Lemke noted the City has looked at this property time and time again and has always come to the <br /> conclusion that it is not a buildable lot. <br /> Thiesse asked how the City can stop someone from approaching the City of Orono time after time <br /> requesting variances that keep getting denied or whether they just keep deflecting it. <br /> Barnhart stated the City can keep deflecting it unless there is a change in designation or ownership since a <br /> property owner is allowed to apply for a variance from the standards in the ordinance. <br /> Leskinen stated she does not feel it is a buildable lot since too many variances are required and there is no <br /> justification for it. Leskinen stated the lot is small and wet and that she would not be in favor of granting <br /> the 75-foot setback and the average lakeshore setback variances. <br /> Schoenzeit asked if anything has changed in the City's code or the state's interpretation of the law <br /> between the last time variances were denied on this property and now. <br /> Barnhart stated the City has adjusted a number of ordinances that have opened up more of a building <br /> envelope for this lot. The one thing that has not changed is the average lakeshore setback, which is <br /> unavoidable given its location. <br /> Schoenzeit noted it can meet the 75-foot line but not the average lakeshore setback. <br /> Thiesse noted they would never be able to meet the average lakeshore setback. <br /> Schwingler commented he struggles on this application since it would change the character of the <br /> neighborhood. Schwingler stated it is a very challenging piece of property and that it would be nice to <br /> have it cleared off and a livable home there but that he is having a hard time envisioning the parking and <br /> the lift station. <br /> Page 8 of 21 <br />