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City of Arden Hills Planning Commission Meeting for April 5, 2017 Page 4 of 7 3. Additional Review Building Official The Building Official has reviewed the plans and has no additional comments at this time. A Building Permit will be required prior to construction. City Engineer The City Engineer has reviewed the plans and has provided the following comments: 1. There is an existing sanitary sewer main between the house and the lake. Show the utility easement on the survey. One of the retaining walls is proposed to be constructed over the sewer main in the easement and will have to be moved. The easement must remain clear of structures in order for the City to maintain the sewer main. 2. A Grading and Erosion Control permit will be required prior to any construction activity. Rice Creek Watershed District The Rice Creek Watershed District has reviewed the proposed project and determined that no permit will be required. Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Municipalities are required to provide the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) with a copy of the variance request for properties within designated shoreland areas at least 10 days before the public meeting. Staff notified the DNR about this application on March 21, 2017. No comments have been provided by the DNR at this time. Discussion Staff is supportive of the variance request for several reasons. The proposed location of the new dwelling is in harmony with the overall purpose and intent of Zoning Code. The Applicants are proposing to place the new home in approximately the same footprint as the existing home. They have also placed the new garage back further than the existing one, in an effort to create space for parking in the driveway without encroaching on the shared access driveway that is also used by the properties to the north and south. The encroachment in the front yard setback would not be inconsistent with development patterns in the area. Environmental conditions on the property also restrict shifting the dwelling back (to the west) to reduce the variance need. There is a significant grade change moving from east to west on the property that would present construction challenges. Additionally, this would require an estimated 1700 cubic yards of fill, which could potentially drain into Lake Johanna. Lastly, shifting the building would likely cause a need for additional tree removal. The Applicant has provided an exhibit showing where the dwelling would be placed if the 40-foot front yard setback requirement was met (Attachment F).