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ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL – MAY 26, 2020 6 Mayor Grant inquired where the additional floor area would be located. Community Development Manager/City Planner Mrosla indicated the extra floor area would be located above the garage and in the basement. Mayor Grant asked if there were homes in Arden Hills that have livable space above the garage. Community Development Manager/City Planner Mrosla stated there were homes with livable space above the garage but noted these homes met the City’s FAR ratio. Councilmember McClung questioned why this item was being brought to the Council now and not with the original variance request. Associate Planner Hartmann explained the applicants originally wanted the 30 foot front yard setback to have more space to build the house. However, since that time the plans for the house have changed in order to create more livable space which created the request for an increased FAR. Councilmember McClung recalled there being a discussion of livable space and FAR and he was concerned this request was just coming forward now. Community Development Manager/City Planner Mrosla reported the applicant made a request in November to have a FAR and front yard variance. He explained in November the Planning Commission tabled action on the item to allow the applicant to do more research. At the time, the applicants hired a different architect and did not pursue the FAR variance and only requested front yard setback variance. Mayor Grant commented the applicants were aware of the lot size when they purchased the property. He asked if staff would characterize this lot as being narrow and sloping to the lake. Associate Planner Hartmann explained the lot was narrow and there were topography issues. He indicated the property did not meet the minimum lot size for this zoning district which restricted the amount of buildable area. Mayor Grant questioned if there were any issues of water or sewer lines crossing the property. Associate Planner Hartmann stated he was not aware of this concern. Councilmember Holden commented the applicants have designed a house that meets building requirements that does not require a variance. For this reason, she would not be able to support a variance at this time. Councilmember Holmes stated she saw the practical difficulties for this lot and for this reason she supported the home having the additional useable space. She indicated she could support the requested variance given the fact the outside of the home would not look different one way or the other.