Laserfiche WebLink
<br />City of Arden Hills <br />City Council Meeting for July 25, 2016 <br />P:\Planning\Planning Cases\2016\PC 16-015 - 1494 Keithson Drive - Variance\Memos_Reports_16-015 <br /> <br />Page 3 of 5 <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 />imposed on granting of variances if those conditions are directly related to and bear a rough <br />proportionality to the impact created by the variance. <br /> <br /> <br />Findings of Fact <br /> <br />The Planning Commission reviewed Planning Case 16-015 at their regular meeting on June 8, <br />2016. Minutes from the meeting are included in Attachment H. The findings of fact from the <br />Planning Commission have been updated to reflect the revised building plans: <br /> <br />General Findings: <br />1. The property at 1494 Keithson Drive is located in the R-1 Single Family Residential <br />Zoning District. <br />2. The lot is in conformance with the minimum lot size and dimensions for the R-1 District. <br />3. The existing conditions on the property are in conformance with the setback and structure <br />and lot coverage requirements for properties in the R-1 District. <br />4. The proposed porch addition would encroach 1 foot – 6 inches into the rear yard setback <br />creating a setback of 28 feet – 6 inches from the rear property line. The minimum rear <br />yard setback in the R-1 District is 30 feet. The proposed porch addition would meet all <br />other setback requirements for the R-1 District. <br />5. The proposed deck is in conformance with the Zoning Code as Section 1325.03, Subd. 2 <br />(A) permits decks to extend six feet into the rear yard setback as long as the <br />encroachment is not closer than six feet from the rear lot line. The proposed deck would <br />be setback 28 feet – 6 inches from the rear property line. <br />6. All other aspects of the proposed porch and deck addition are in conformance with the <br />Zoning Code requirements for the R-1 District. <br />7. The proposed addition would not encroach on any flood plains, wetlands, or easements. <br />8. The proposed addition is not expected to impact any significant trees on the property. <br /> <br />Variance Findings: <br />9. The variance would be in harmony with the purpose and intent of the City’s Code <br />because the impact of the addition on adjacent properties would be mitigated by the <br />location of the addition at the rear of the house, the elevation change between the subject <br />property and the adjacent property to the east, and the presence of several large trees <br />along the rear property line that provide screening. <br />10. The variance would be consistent with the City’s Comprehensive Plan because it meets <br />the City’s housing goal of encouraging property investment that complements and <br />enhances the character of the City’s established neighborhoods. <br />11. The proposed porch addition is a reasonable use of the property that would not be <br />allowed under the rules of the Zoning Code without the requested variance.