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City of Arden Hills 1245 West Highway 96 Arden Hills, MN 55112 Dear Planning Commission: The attached proposal details the evidence supporting our request for a variance from the Zoning Code. The strict interpretation of the zoning code restricts the reasonable use of the property in question due to the unique characteristics of the property. Issuance of a variance to the zoning code would not jeopardize the spirit of the zoning code or deviated from the character of the neighborhood. Our building project consists of an 18'x 12' covered 3-season porch extending off the Southern most section of the East side (back side) of the home, adjacent to the currently existing Egress/Ingress door. Extending to the south directly off the 3- season porch is a 10'x 20' uncovered porch that slightly wraps around the southern edge of the home (please see the attached rendering of the proposed porch). We plan to use the licensed builder Archadeck- Outdoor Living (License #: BC642018) to complete the building project. It is our belief that this variance is well within the spirit of the zoning code. It is my understanding from my discussion with Arden Hills Senior Planner Matthew Bachler that the spirit of the Zoning Code is to protect the adjacent neighbors from obstruction of view, encroachment of property and other"unsightliness" resulting from such building projects. I have taken the liberty to take photographs of the three closest neighbors (closest neighbor to the North, East and South)who would have the greatest impacted by this building project. The photos show two different perspectives; the first is a direct line of sight from the proposed deck to the neighbor's house and the other is from the neighbor's home with direct line of site toward the proposed deck. (Please see attached photos). When viewing these photographs you can see that the direct line of sight from the neighbor to the North is completely obstructed from the Northern face of our home (since the proposed deck is on the South Eastern section of the home). The neighbor directly to the South is nearly 200 yards away from the proposed deck with trees and other vegetation to buffer the view. The Neighbor to the East is roughly 35 yards (115 feet) from the proposed deck with trees and other vegetation buffering the view along with the fact that this neighbor's main viewing is to the North and South, not to the West toward the proposed deck. It is also our belief that this variance is within the character of the neighborhood. Of the 39 homes in the Fox Ridge Neighborhood well over half of the homes have decks both with and without 3-season porches. Of the three closets neighbors discussed previously all three have decks currently. Hardship Criteria: