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MINUTES OF THE <br /> ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING <br /> Tuesday,January 16,2018 <br /> 6:30 o'clock p.m. <br /> Landgraver stated the City recently increased the structural coverage to 20 percent and the main reason <br /> why the City has those constraints is to keep things in scale. Landgraver indicated he is hesitant to <br /> approve that much of an increase over the allowable structural coverage and that he has not been <br /> persuaded to approve that. <br /> Thiesse noted the Planning Commission recommended the increase in the structural coverage be denied. <br /> Thiesse asked whether the applicant would be able to reduce the structural coverage. <br /> Martineau stated this is a very unusual lot given the street on three sides and that the proposed house is <br /> 36 feet wide, including the garage. Martineau stated he is not sure if that includes the deck. <br /> Oakden indicated it would be the house and the covered stoop. <br /> Martineau stated it would be very difficult to reduce it without reducing the size of the rooms to the point <br /> where it does not make sense. Martineau stated he understands citizens have to be good stewards of the <br /> property and that it is his belief it is in the best interest of the neighborhood not to make this a two-story <br /> house, especially given the street on three sides of the house. <br /> Thiesse stated he is looking at the floor plan and he sees a sunroom and a study. Thiesse commented <br /> those are wonderful to have but that the applicant might have to decrease the size. <br /> Martineau noted the plan was originally at 38 feet wide and they reduced it to 36 feet wide. <br /> Lemke asked whether a two-story would be preferable. <br /> Thiesse indicated it would not be preferable but it would be allowed. <br /> Leskinen stated having the road on three sides makes the lot more challenging and noted the new home <br /> would be more centered on the lot. Leskinen questioned whether having a two-story house or having a <br /> one-story that is 348 square feet over the allowed structural coverage is really the lesser of two evils. <br /> Thiesse noted the home on one side is two stories and the other homes in the neighborhood are a story <br /> and a half. <br /> Landgraver stated the City thoroughly vetted the new structural coverage ratios and that he is not inclined <br /> to approve the increase in structural coverage. Landgraver stated he is willing to approve a two-story <br /> home since that is an efficient use of land. Landgraver stated if everything else were single story, he <br /> might make an exception, but that he has a feeling that some of the other neighbors in the future may <br /> want a two-story. <br /> Oakden stated because the proposed house encroaches the setback, if those setbacks continue to be <br /> proposed with a two-story home,they would require a variance since the second story would be a new <br /> encroachment in height in the setback areas. <br /> Landgraver moved,Schwingler seconded,to recommend denial of Application No. 18-4000, <br /> Jeff Martineau on behalf of Barbara Garcia, 1335 Arbor Street,based on the structural coverage <br /> exceeding the 2,000 square feet. VOTE: Ayes 5,Nays 0. <br /> Page 12 of 17 <br />