11-20-2017 Planning Commission Minutes

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING Monday,November 20,2017 6:30 o'clock p.m. ROLL CALL The Orono Planning Commission met on the above-mentioned date with the following members present: Chair John Thiesse, Commissioners Kevin Landgraver,Bruce Lemke, Chad Olson, and Loren Schoenzeit. Representing Staff were Community Development Director Jeremy Barnhart, City Planners Melanie Curtis and Laura Oakden, and Recorder Jackie Young. Chair Thiesse called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m., followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. 1. APPROVAL OF PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES OF OCTOBER 16,2017 Landgraver moved,Lemke seconded,to approve the minutes of the Orono Planning Commission meeting of October 16,2017,as submitted. VOTE: Ayes 5,Nays 0. 2. #17-3979 KIMBERLY AND STEVE SCHOTTLER,2740 SHADYWOOD ROAD,AFTER- THE-FACT VARIANCES, 6:35 P.M.—7:05 P.M. Steve Schottler,Applicant, was present. Curtis stated the applicants purchased the property in August of 2016. In September of 2016,the City issued a stop work notice for unpermitted construction of a new screen porch on the lake side of the home. A follow-up inspection in July of 2017 showed that the porch had not been removed and no permit or variance applications had been submitted. The applicants have now submitted a variance application in October. The screen porch was constructed in the place of a smaller 26-foot wide second-story deck which extended 11 feet from the house toward the lake. An 11.6' x 11.6' deck was built where that portion of the existing deck was located on the southeast side of the residence. Next to that a new 25.6' x 31.5' roofed screen porch now extends 31.5 feet toward the lake,which is 20 feet lakeward of the average lakeshore setback line and approximately two feet into the 75-foot setback. Staff finds no practical difficulties supporting hardcover and structural encroachments into the 75-foot setback. In addition,the screen porch could be redesigned to provide for that same outdoor living space within the permitted setback areas. Although the project is supported by the neighbors, Staff does not identify sufficient practical difficulties supporting the substantial average lakeshore setback encroachment. If the Planning Commission identifies practical difficulties support the new screen porch encroachment lakeward of the average lakeshore setback, a motion for approval would be appropriate. If the Planning Commission recommends approval,the comments from the building official should be taken into consideration. Staff recommends denial of the 75-foot setback and hardcover encroachment since neither are supported by practical difficulties. Curtis displayed photographs of the screen porch and yard. Page 1 of 21