Zoning board approves lot-area variance but denies front-yard relief for Wodtke rebuild

Chair Kristine Hoss convened the Orleans Zoning Board of Adjustment on July 15, 2026, to hear a request from applicants Myron and Jane Wodtke to remove an existing garage and rebuild at 13950 Center Drive. The board approved a variance to reduce the minimum lot area from 10,000 square feet to approximately 6,458 square feet but denied the front-yard setback request and advised the applicants to redesign the garage, deck and stairs to meet the 25-foot front-yard requirement.

Applicant representative Mike Wodtke explained constraints that he said required maintaining the existing footprint, including "an existing basement" and a water line beneath it that he called important to preserve. He told the board the current structure "cannot withstand the new addition," prompting the removal and replacement on the same footprint. The application listed a proposed 38-by-26-foot structure with the main and upper levels each about 988 square feet and a deck with exterior steps; requested variances included lot area (~6,458 sq ft vs 10,000 req.), front-yard setbacks (18' for deck; 24.72' for structure vs 25' req.) and a 5-foot left side-yard setback for the deck (10' required).

Board members considered the four statutory variance factors required by ordinance and state guidance. On the lot-area request the board recorded factor findings (factor 1: yes; factors 2–4: no) and voted 5-0 to approve the lot-area variance (motion by Schmidt, seconded by Hanby). When members reviewed the front-yard request they recorded factor findings (1: yes; 2: no; 3: yes; 4: yes) and voted 5-0 to deny that variance (motion by Schmidt, seconded by Hanby). The board instructed the applicants to redesign the garage/deck/stairs to comply with the 25-foot front-yard setback.

Two written submissions were noted: a letter in support from Sandra Becker (13927 Center Drive) and an emailed objection submitted by Brian Knowles on behalf of his client Tim Ronfeldt (13915 Center Drive). The board also clarified that a second garage discussed at the hearing predates the current zoning ordinance and is grandfathered, and therefore was not before the board for this application.

The meeting record shows the board closed the public hearing and completed deliberations at 4:15 p.m.; the lot-area approval and front-yard denial were recorded by roll-call votes with all five members (Schmidt, Hanby, Harris, Miller, Hoss) voting the same way on each matter.