Laserfiche WebLink
CITY OF ORONO <br /> PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING <br /> Monday,May 15,2017 <br /> 6:30 o'clock p.m. <br /> Barnhart indicated the width is defined in the City's zoning ordinance and it is based on the width of the <br /> at the building setback line for nonlakeshore lots. On Lakeshore lots,the width is measured at the ordinary <br /> high water line and 75 feet back. <br /> Schoenzeit asked which number would be used if the numbers differ. <br /> Barnhart stated he would use the shortest dimension. <br /> Schwingler asked if the City had 41 variance requests last year. <br /> Barnhart stated the City had 41 variance requests last year and 19 of those variances involved side or side <br /> street setback variance requests. <br /> Thiesse asked if there were any applications where a side street setback variance was the only request. <br /> Barnhart stated if it is a substandard lot and they do not meet any of the setbacks,they also have to <br /> request lot area and lot width variances. Barnhart indicated he did not determine if there were any <br /> applications that only requested a side street setback variance. <br /> Chair Thiesse opened the public hearing at 6:49 p.m. <br /> Brandy Carlson, 1185 Arbor Street,stated she would like to note the intent of this is to free Staff from <br /> needing to do the paperwork to grant variances. Carlson stated having lived in the area for 30-plus years, <br /> she knows that most of the lots in her neighborhood are nonconforming. If those property owners were to <br /> build out to the side setback,they would still require a front or a rear variance. Carlson noted her house <br /> sits on over three acres and is only 35 feet from the street,which is similar to the other homes in the area. <br /> Carlson stated she does not feel this will help free up Staff time since the applicants would still require <br /> other variances and that in her view the map is somewhat misleading. Carlson noted she sent the City a <br /> map where she would suggest rezoning be applied,which would be in the sewered areas, and that in her <br /> view she does not feel it is suited for the outer part of the RR-1B district. Carlson stated she would ask <br /> the Planning Commission to consider not going with Staff's recommendation and that things would be <br /> better addressed with rezoning. Carlson stated if her neighborhood is rezoned to one acre,the <br /> neighborhood would increase by two parcels,which would be the two parcels that come out of her 3-acre <br /> parcel. <br /> In addition,the front setbacks would then be 35 feet and the sides would be 10 feet,which is the same <br /> thing that is being achieved with this. Rezoning to one acre might also alleviate the possibility that all <br /> these people may need a variance to the front yard setback or the rear yard setback since it would be <br /> reduced from 50 to 35 feet. <br /> Richie Anderson,3205 Crystal Bay Road, stated they are currently looking at constructing a house next to <br /> the marina on a 57-foot wide lot and that in his view,under the new ordinance,with the 20 percent <br /> structural coverage and five percent more for hardcover,they are going to be able to build a really nice <br /> house with the 10-foot setbacks. Anderson stated he would not want to be the person who lives on a <br /> small lot with an adjoining small lot where they can build closer to the lot line. <br /> Chair Thiesse closed the public hearing at 6:53 p.m. <br /> Page 3 of 23 <br />