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CONSENT ITEM – 5H <br /> <br /> <br />City of Arden Hills <br />City Council Meeting for March 30, 2015 <br /> <br />P:\Planning\Planning Cases\2015\PC 15-003 - CSM - Site Plan Review & Variance - Parking Lot\Memos_Reports_15-003 <br />Page 3 of 6 <br /> <br /> Caliper Inches Number of <br />Trees <br />Total Existing Trees 647” 32 <br />10% Permitted Removal 64.7” -- <br />Proposed Removal 77” 6 <br />Trees Preserved 570” 28 <br />Replacement Trees Required* 6.15” --** <br />Replacement Trees Proposed 12.5” 5 <br /> * Replacement trees are calculated by subtracting the ten percent permitted <br />removal from the proposed removal and dividing by two. <br /> ** The number of trees required may vary depending on the size of the trees <br />planted by the developer. City Code requires a certain number of caliper <br />inches to be planted. If larger trees are planted then fewer trees would be <br />required. <br /> <br />In total five (5) Autumn Blaze Red Maple trees will be planted, equating to 12.5 caliper <br />inches. Based on the proposed tree removal, the City’s Tree Preservation Ordinance <br />requires 6.15 caliper inches to be planted on the site. <br /> <br />D. Parking – Variance Required <br /> <br />The Zoning Code requires that off-street parking areas containing four or more parking <br />spaces must be a minimum of five (5) feet from any side or rear lot line. With the <br />proposed expansion, the parking lot area would be located 4 feet – 4 inches from the <br />adjacent property to south. The applicant is requesting a variance in order to encroach <br />into this required setback. <br /> <br /> <br />2. Additional Review <br /> <br />a. The Rice Creek Watershed District (RCWD) reviewed the plans for this request and <br />determined that a RCWD Permit would not be required for the proposed project. <br /> <br />b. The City Engineer reviewed the proposal and stated that a Grading and Erosion <br />Control Permit is needed for this project. <br /> <br /> <br />Variance Evaluation Criteria <br /> <br />Minnesota State Statute requires municipalities to use a “practical difficulties” standard when <br />evaluating variance requests. In evaluating a variance request, the three-factor test of (1) <br />reasonableness, (2) uniqueness, and (3) essential character should be used. Minnesota State <br />Statute also states that: “Variances shall only be permitted when they are in harmony with the