02-23-2000 Planning Commission Minutes

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• ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES FOR FEBRUARY 23, 2000 ROLL The Orono Planning Commission met on the above date with the following members present: Chair Elizabeth Hawn, Commissioners Jay Nygard, Sandra Smith, and Daniel Kluth. Commissioners Janice Berg, Dale Lindquist, and William Stoddard were absent. The following represented City Staff: Zoning Administrator Paul Weinberger, Senior Planning Coordinator Mike Gaffron, Assistant Zoning Administrator Wendy Bottenberg, City Council Representative Barb Peterson, and Recorder Jackie Young. Chair Hawn called the meeting to order at 6:32 p.m. PUBLIC HEARINGS OLD BUSINESS (#1) #2513 CONNIE PIEPHO, 540 NORTH ARM LANE -VARIANCES, 6:33 p.m. -6:58 p.m. Connie Piepho, Applicant, was present, along with Mike Movani, Custom Pools. Weinberger stated the Planning Commission had reviewed this application at their August 16, 1999 • meeting, where it was recommended the application be approved on a vote of 5 to 0 to grant an average lakeshore setback variance on the property subject to the property owner identifying a secondary septic site on the property. The original proposal had the swimming pool located within an area designated as the secondary septic site on the property. The Applicant has submitted a new site plan that relocates the pool to the north property line, which requires the application to return before the Planning Commission for review. The present application is for an average lakeshore setback to permit construction of an inground pool. For swimming pools, the setback is measured from the water basin to the property line. The size of the setback is set by the size of the basin, which in this case is less than 750 square feet, requiring a ten foot setback to the property line. The pool itself is proposed to be located 15 feet from the side property line, where ten feet is required. Weinberger stated the Applicant, following the first public hearing, was to identify a secondary septic site. The previous proposal discovered that the secondary septic site is located between the home and the secondary septic site. City Code requires all structures to be located at least 20 feet from the absorportion area of the mound. To date no secondary septic site has been identified which meets all requirements of the Septic Code. One problem in relocating the septic site further to the north is the well for the adjacent property owner is located 16 feet off the Applicant's property line where the Septic Code requires a minimum 75 foot setback between a septic system and an active well. The City's septic inspector will not approve a variance to the septic code to permit a site to be located closer than 75 feet to the neighboring well. Staff has concerns regarding the placement of a potential health risk to an adjacent property owner's water supply to accommodate a property owner to relocate a septic site. Weinberger stated Staff has some concerns regarding the impact the new location of the pool would have on the views to the lake. The intent of the average lakeshore setback is to protect views for adjacent property owners and to promote consistent development along the lakeshore. Page 1