04-04-18 PC - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Variance Request February 9, 2018 3246 New Brighton Road Submitted by: Journey Home MN, as part of the larger Lake Johanna Station 1 Redevelopment Contact Info: Blake Huffman, Executive Director 651-249-1732 Blakehuffman@comcast.net Planning Commission Members and City Council Members, Journey Home MN is requesting a variance related to its Lake Johanna Station 1 redevelopment at the above address. We purchased the property from the Fire Department at market value, $300,000, in 2017. The development is an exciting opportunity for all and combines several positive feat ures such as: Net Zero Energy, Smart Home Design, Non Subsidized affordable housing for veterans and more. The development has already won an award for its creative plan. Our proposal calls for four single family homes built on the property. The variance request is due to the fact that the lots would be approximately 4’ short of the city code requiring 85’ wide. We feel there are four primary reasons the decision makers should consider when reviewing this variance request. 1) Although the lots will be slightly skinnier then city code, they will be substantially larger than minimums due to the deep length of the property. The average lot size of these four lots will be double the city minimum of 11,000 square feet. 2) The target audience for these homes are veterans with disabilities and we are trying to keep the homes affordable. Sharing the land acquisition, tear down and infrastructure between four homes v. three is a tremendous boost in our goal of selling these homes to veterans at below market rates. 3) We respect the “character of the neighborhood”. Our homes will be consistent with the neighborhood and not change it. We have already submitted plans to the city to build 1 story homes between 1,000 – 1,200 square feet with a walk out basement. 4) The plan we are creating is intentionally focused on minimizing visual and physical impacts to New Brighton Road. Although we our proposing 4 lots, we will only have two “curb cuts” as the two northern homes and the two southern homes will share street access. Additionally, we will be establishing rain gardens to catch and clean water before it leaves the property. Our target audience for these homes are veterans who have a physical disability and income levels are below 80% Area Median Income (AMI). We will sell the homes, creating homeowners who can enjoy all the great things Arden Hills has to offer such as the Mounds View School District, close location to jobs, parks and shopping, etc.