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removed. The property owner has indicated that two (2) new trees will be planted upon <br />conclusion of the project. The ordinance requires 1.05 caliper inches to be replaced. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />3.Additional Review <br /> <br /> <br />a. <br />The Rice Creek Watershed District reviewed the plans for this request and determined <br />that a RCWD Permit would not be required for the proposed project at 1850 Venus <br /> <br />Avenue. <br /> <br />b. <br />The Building Official reviewed the plans for the project and had no additional <br /> <br />comments. <br /> <br />c. <br />The City Engineer reviewed the proposal and stated that a Grading and Erosion <br /> <br />Control Permit is needed for this project. <br /> <br />d. <br />Scott Yonke from Ramsey County Parks and Recreation Department did contact staff <br />about the project. Mr. Yonke informed staff that after reviewing the proposal the <br />County would have no objections to the plan; however, they did have concerns about <br />grading and wanted the applicant to be aware that no grading, retaining walls or other <br /> <br />structures will be allowed on th. <br /> <br /> <br />Variance Evaluation Criteria <br /> <br />On May 5, 2011, the Governor signed into law new variance legislation that changed the review <br />variance stand <br />familiar three-factor test of (1) reasonableness, (2) uniqueness, and (3) essential character. Also <br />included is a sentence new to city variance authority that was already in the county statutes: <br />intent of the ordinance and when the terms of the variance are consistent with the comprehensive <br /> <br /> <br />Therefore, in evaluating variance requests under the new law, in order to find a practical <br />difficulty, cities should adopt findings addressing the following questions: <br />Is the variance in harmony with the purposes and intent of the ordinance? <br /> <br />Is the variance consistent with the comprehensive plan? <br /> <br />Does the proposal put property to use in a reasonable manner? <br /> <br />Are there unique circumstances to the property not created by the landowner? <br /> <br />Will the variance, if granted, alter the essential character of the locality? <br /> <br /> <br />As was the case before the new legislation took effect, economic considerations alone cannot <br />constitute a practical difficulty. Furthermore, the new law clarifies that conditions may be <br /> <br />City of Arden Hills <br />City Council Meeting for May 27, 2014 <br /> <br />P:\\Planning\\Planning Cases\\2014\\PC 14-014 - Variance - 1850 Venus Avenue\\Memos_Reports_14-014 <br /> <br />48 <br />Page of <br /> <br />