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City of Arden Hills Planning Commission Meeting for September 9th, 2020 P:\Planning\Planning Cases\2020\20-014 1434 County Road E - Var\PC Packets Page 3 of 7 approximately twenty-four (24) feet wide in the rear. The property would otherwise meet the minimum district requirements for lot length and size. Structure Setbacks - Flexibility Requested In the R-1 District, the minimum setback for an accessory structure in the rear or side yard is ten (10) feet. As previously stated, the Applicant is requesting flexibility to encroach into the east side yard setback for the expanded garage, which is currently only three (3) feet from the side property line. Otherwise, if granted a variance for flexibility with the side yard setback, the Applicant’s proposal would maintain the same distance from the property line as the current structure, but meet all other district provisions for building structures. 2. General Regulations – Section 1325.01 Accessory Structures The Applicant intends to use this expanded garage for storage of their vehicles. City Code Section 1325.01 Subd 4 states that accessory structures associated with residential uses in the R-1, R-2, and R-3 Districts shall not exceed 728 square feet. City Code Section 1325.01 Subd. 7 allows for deviations from these requirements may be permitted after Planning Commission review and City Council approval of a site plan. The site plan approval for expanding accessory structures requires similar documentation as a variance request. The applicant needs to provide documentation showing the unusual circumstances justifying the proposed deviation and plans for the proposed accessory structure. The same code section also states that under no circumstances shall the total floor area of all accessory structures associated with a residential use in the R-1 district exceed 1,458 square feet. Given the proposal is for a garage expansion, a site plan is required to be approved as part of the requested variance for this planning case. The proposed floor area of the garage would be 1,100 square feet, the Applicant is limited to 358 square feet for the floor area of any other accessory structures on site. As a condition of approval, staff is recommending that the Subject Property be limited to one (1) accessory structure. No additional structures may be built on the property. City Code Section 1325.01 Subd. 2 states that accessory structures in the R-1, R-2, and R-3 Districts shall not exceed fifteen (15) feet in height or the height of the principal structure to which it is accessory, whichever is lower. In practice, the City measures the height of a structure from the grade to the midpoint of the peak. The Applicant’s plans indicate that the proposed garage will meet the requirements of the code. Staff are recommending as conditions of approval that the Applicant’s proposal for the accessory structure meet the requirements for a permitted encroachment outlined for a principal structure in that the exterior materials of the proposed addition shall be consistent or complementary in color, texture and quality with those visible on the existing accessory structure and the roof of the proposed addition shall be integrated into, and consistent with, the existing structure of the roof. According to City Code Section 1325.01 Subd. 3, accessory structures in the R-1, R-2, or R-3 Districts shall not be located nearer the front lot line than the front yard setback line for the principal structure to which it is accessory. Accessory structures as permitted and regulated in this Code may be located within the rear yard of the principal structure in the R-1 and R-2 Districts. The proposed accessory structure will not encroach any further into the front yard setback, but will extend into the backyard of the Subject Property.