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ARDEN HILLS PLANNING COMMISSION – May 6, 2020 3 2. Recommend Approval as Submitted 3. Recommend Denial 4. Table Chair Gehrig opened the floor to Commissioner comments. Commissioner Jefferys asked if the City has previously approved a FAR request over .3 in the past. Community Development Manager/City Planner Mrosla stated it was his understanding the City has received one other request for a FAR variance and this was for another unique lot. He explained the majority of lots in the City meet all zoning requirements, but older lakefront lots were unique. Commissioner Jefferys questioned if an architect would be aware of the City’s FAR requirements. Community Development Manager/City Planner Mrosla deferred this question to the architect. Andrew Peterson, architect for the Applicants, explained he understood the requirements ahead of time. However, he stated it took time to lay out the space and to fully understand how the Applicants would want the building to be laid out. Commissioner Jones commented on the Met Council information that was provided to the Commission. He supported the City reviewing how FAR was measured. He noted this was the third time this home has been before the Commission. He inquired if t he Applicants were planning to raise the floor in the basement while also adding space above the garage. Mr. Peterson explained this was a new construction home and the house has been designed with flexibility to where additional space could be captured. He indicated the space above the garage and in the lower level could accommodate the therapy room. He reported if the FAR variance was not approved, he would need to revise the plans. Commissioner Jones questioned if the .34 FAR included both the basement and space above the garage. Mr. Peterson stated nothing has been approved yet. He commented in the lower level the floor would be raised for a crawl space. He indicated the exterior envelope of the home would not be altered if the FAR variance was no t approved. He described how the home was built into a hillside and a portion would be useable space and the remainder would be crawl space. He reported the crawl space had to not be livable space because of the City’s FAR requirements. Commissioner Lambeth commented on the information that was provided to the Commission in November of 2019. He asked what the lot size was for this property noting there were three different numbers included in the materials. He discussed the history of this Planning Case noting the previous requests from the Applicants. He understood the Applicants were requesting extra space for special needs programming for their child, but indicated the Applicants were now