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Approved: CITY OF ARDEN HILLS, MINNESOTA REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING JUNE 27, 2016 7:00 P.M. - ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS 9. NEW BUSINESS B. Planning Case 16-015 – 1494 Keithson Drive - Variance City Planner Streff stated the property at 1494 Keithson Drive was developed by Pulte Homes as part of the Fox Ridge subdivision approved by the City in 2011. The lot area measures 32,736 square feet; however, a wetland area covers a large portion of the lot and limits the area that can be developed. As part of the subdivision approval, Pulte was required to dedicate a drainage and utility easement that covers the wetland and a five-foot buffer along the wetland’s edge. The City Code restricts the placement of any structures within a drainage and utility easement. The property also includes a public walking path that traverses the lot on the south side of the existing house connecting Keithson Drive to the City trail that runs between the Fox Ridge subdivision and the townhomes to the east. A trail easement across the walking path was dedicated on the Fox Ridge plat. City Planner Streff commented that due to environmental constraints, the existing house was placed in the far northeastern corner of the lot near the 30-foot rear yard and 10-foot north side yard setback lines. The dwelling also required a setback of approximately 73 feet from the front property line to avoid the drainage and utility easement and conform to structure setback requirements. In comparison, most of the homes in the Fox Ridge subdivision as well as those on Keithson Drive to the north of the subject property are setback approximately 40 feet from the front property line. City Planner Streff explained the applicants have requested a rear yard setback variance in order to construct a 216 square foot three-season porch addition on the rear side of the house. The porch addition would encroach 3 feet – 6 inches into the required 30-foot rear yard setback, creating a setback of 26 feet – 6 inches from the rear property line. The project would also include a 211 square foot deck that would be accessed through the new porch addition. In this case, a variance is only needed for the porch addition as the deck encroachment in the rear yard setback is allowed under the permitted encroachment provisions in Section 1325.03, Subd. 2 of the Zoning Code. City Planner Streff reviewed the Plan Evaluation and the Variance Evaluation Criteria.