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ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL — AUGUST 10, 2020 4 property line. The proposed deck requested would have encroached an additional twelve (12) feet into the front yard setback. Associate Planner Hartmann commented the Council discussed the possibility of a covered porch in lieu of the proposed deck as covered porches may encroach ten (10) feet into the front yard setback. The City Council then tabled the request to allow the Applicants time to pursue plans for a covered porch and return with an amended request. The Applicants are still proposing to replace the existing deck structure with a deck instead of building a covered porch. According to the Applicants, extending a roof over a covered porch on the south side of the house would block too much sunlight from the two windows. Associate Planner Hartmann explained based on a more accurate measurement that the applicants took of the distance from the front of the house to the front property line, the proposed seven and a half (7.5) foot wide deck would only encroach one (1) foot into the front yard setback because the house is precisely forty and a half (40.5) feet from the front property line. As stated above, decks in the R-I district are permitted to encroach up to six (6) feet into setbacks as long as there is at least an another six (6) feet between the edge of the deck and the property line. Therefore, without an approved variance, a deck must maintain a setback of at least thirty-four (34) feet from the front property line. Associate Planner Hartmann reviewed the Plan Evaluation and offered the following amended Findings of Fact: 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 Subject Property is non -conforming with the R-1 districts standards for minimum lot length and area requirements. 4. The Subject Property is nonconforming due to the sunken elevation of the front yard. 5. The proposed deck would encroach one (1) foot into the front yard setback. 6. If approved for a variance, the proposed development of the subject parcel would otherwise conform to all other requirements and standards of the R-1 district. 7. A variance may be granted if enforcement of a provision in the zoning ordinance would cause the landowner practical difficulties. 8. Variances are only permitted when they are in harmony with the general purposes and intent of the ordinance. Staff offered for Council's consideration approval of Planning Case 20-004 for a variance at 1741 Venus Avenue, based on the findings of fact and the submitted plans, as amended by the following conditions: 1. Prior to issuance of a Building Permit, engineering department staff shall review a revised landscaping plan to ensure no impacts to the right-of-way. 2. A Building Permit shall be issued prior to commencement of construction. 3. The proposed building shall conform to all standards and regulations in the City Code. Mayor Grant asked if the applicant was attending the meeting.