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City of Arden Hills Planning Commission Meeting for May 6th, 2020 P:\Planning\Planning Cases\2020\20-004 1741 Venus Avenue Tourdot Variance\Memos Reports Page 6 of 8 a. Reasonable Use. The property owner proposes to use the property in a reasonable manner not permitted by the Zoning Ordinance. A deck for a single family home is a reasonable use of the Subject Property in the R-1 Zoning District. The walkway is necessary as the means of egress out the front door. b. Unique Circumstances. The plight of the property owner is due to circumstances unique to the property not created by the landowner. According to the Applicants’ application, the sunken topography of the front yard is unique to the property 1741 Venus Avenue as well as the nonconforming nature of the lot’s size and length. The previous owner designed and landscaped the front yard for aesthetic reasons prior to the adoption of the zoning code. c. Character of Neighborhood. The variance, if granted, will not alter the essential character of the neighborhood. According to the Applicants’ application, the existing neighborhood has homes with a variety of different front yard decks, porches, and patios and the proposed variance will not alter the character of the neighborhood. The sunken courtyard has been a neighborhood feature for many years. 3. Economic Consideration. Economic consideration alone does not constitute a practical difficulty. The proposed variance is not based on economic consideration. 4. Access to Sunlight. Inadequate access to direct sunlight for solar energy systems shall be considered a practical difficulty. A solar energy system is not proposed. Findings of Fact The Planning Commission must make a finding as to whether or not the proposed application would adversely affect the surrounding neighborhood or the community as a whole based on the aforementioned factors. Staff offers the following findings for consideration: General Findings: 1. City Staff received a land use application for a request to build a replacement deck for a single family dwelling at the Subject Property 1741 Venus Avenue. 2. A deck on a single-family detached dwelling is a permitted use in the R-1 district. 3. The proposed walkway is necessary as the means of egress out the front door of the house. 4. The Subject Property is non-conforming with the R-1 districts standards for minimum lot length and area requirements. 5. The Subject Property is also nonconforming for topography due to the sunken elevation of the front yard.