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<br />City of Arden Hills <br />City Council Meeting for March 26, 2018 <br />P:\Planning\Planning Cases\2018\PC 18-003 - Bethel University - CUP Amendment - Sciences <br />Addition\Memos_Reports_18-003 <br /> <br />Page 4 of 8 <br />Valentine Lake is classified as a Natural Environmental lake by the Minnesota Department of <br />Natural Resources (DNR). Natural Environmental is the strictest of the three lake classifications <br />used by the DNR. Generally, Natural Environmental lakes are less developed than General <br />Development and Recreational Development lakes, but the classification is mainly used by the <br />DNR to determine lot size and setbacks. The minimum lot size and structure setbacks for Natural <br />Environmental lakes are greater than other lake classifications. For example, the minimum <br />structure setback for General Development lakes is 50 feet and for Recreational Development <br />lakes 75 feet. The purpose of the stricter regulations for Natural Environmental lakes is to <br />preserve the natural quality of the lakes and minimize density and development. <br /> <br />The City Council must use the following criteria when reviewing a request for a Variance: <br /> <br />1. Purpose and Intent. The Variance request shall comply with the purpose and intent of the <br />provisions of City's Zoning Regulations and with the policies of the City's <br />Comprehensive Plan. <br /> <br />2. Practical Difficulties. The applicant for a Variance shall establish that there are practical <br />difficulties in complying with the provisions of the Arden Hills Zoning Regulations. The <br />following criteria apply to this application: <br /> <br />a) Reasonable Use. The property owner proposes to use the property in a reasonable <br />manner not permitted by the Zoning Ordinance. <br /> <br />b) Unique Circumstances. The plight of property owner is due to circumstances unique <br />to the property not created by the landowner. <br /> <br />c) Character of Neighborhood. The variance, if granted, will not alter the essential <br />character of the neighborhood. <br /> <br />d) Economic Consideration. Economic consideration alone does not constitute a <br />practical difficulty. <br /> <br />e) Access to Sunlight. Inadequate access to direct sunlight for solar energy systems shall <br />be considered a practical difficulty. <br /> <br /> <br />Additional Review <br /> <br />City Building Official <br />The City Building Official has reviewed the proposed plans and provided the following <br />comments: