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MINUTES OF THE <br /> ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION <br /> September 18,2023 <br /> 6:00 o'clock p.m. <br /> ROLL CALL <br /> The Orono Planning Commission met on the above-mentioned date with the following members present: <br /> Chair Chris Bollis, Commissioners Dennis Libby,Jon Ressler,Bob Erickson, Scott Kirchner and Ted <br /> Schultze. Commissioners Mark McCutcheon and Gary Kraemer were absent.Representing Staff were <br /> Community Development Director Laura Oakden,City Planner Melanie Curtis, and City Planner Natalie <br /> Nye. <br /> Chair Bollis called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.,followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. <br /> APPROVAL OF AGENDA <br /> Libby moved,Kirchner seconded,to approve the Agenda. VOTE: Ayes 6,Nays 0. <br /> APPROVAL OF PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES OF AUGUST 21,2023 <br /> Ressler moved, Schultze seconded,to approve the minutes of the Orono Planning Commission <br /> meeting of August 21,2023.VOTE: Ayes 6,Nays 0. <br /> PUBLIC HEARINGS <br /> 1. LA23-000046 REBECCA HOLZEM,3407 EAST LAKE STREET,REQUESTS <br /> VARIANCES FOR AVERAGE LAKESHORE SETBACK,75-FOOT LAKE SETBACK, <br /> HARDCOVER,AND HARDCOVER WITHIN THE 75-FOOT LAKE SETBACK FOR <br /> THE CONSTRUCTION OF A DECK <br /> City Planner Nye gave a presentation on the item, stating the applicant is requesting variances for average <br /> lakeshore setback,75-foot lake setback, overall hardcover and hardcover within the 75-foot lake setback <br /> to construct a new deck. The subject property is substandard in size and width,While the property does <br /> not directly front on Stubbs Bay,the Ordinary High Water Level(OHWL)extends onto the property and <br /> a creek runs along the southern edge. The home is almost entirely within the 75-foot setback. The <br /> applicant does not currently have a deck or patio and is proposing to construct a new 14-foot by 20-foot, <br /> 280 square foot deck on the south side of the home. The proposed deck would encroach into the average <br /> lakeshore setback and be entirely within the 75-foot setback. The addition would increase hardcover on <br /> the property from 27.63 percent to 35.0 percent when 25 percent is permitted. The applicant has <br /> identified the extremely substandard lot size and width as practical difficulties and states they have <br /> proposed a deck that is comparable in size to neighboring properties' outdoor living spaces. Staff finds <br /> that there are practical difficulties in the size and width of the lot. The small lot size coupled with the <br /> required setbacks eliminates any compliant buildable area. The property does not have any outdoor living <br /> space and therefore it is a reasonable request to have a small outdoor deck,Nye said, adding,however,the <br /> deck encroaches into the average lakeshore setback and a redesign could eliminate this variance request. <br /> The variances received in 2005 for the construction of the home and the resolution approving those <br /> variances states that the homeowner chose to forego a deck in order to minimize hardcover and goes on to <br /> state that any future requests to increase hardcover would likely not be approved without some reduction <br /> in hardcover. The applicant has not proposed to eliminate any hardcover on the site.Nye said staff is not <br /> supportive of the proposal as applied,however would be amendable to a redesign outside of the average <br /> lakeshore setback line and with some reduction of hardcover. <br /> Page 1of7 <br />