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City of Arden Hills Planning Commission Meeting for October 7th, 2020 P:\Planning\Planning Cases\2020\20-017 3493 Siems Court - Var\PC Packets Page 7 of 10 regulations. If the Applicant does not meet all the factors of the statutory test, then a variance should not be granted. Variances are only permitted when they are in harmony with the general purposes and intent of the ordinance. Below are the Applicant’s findings of fact. 1. Purpose and Intent. The variance request shall comply with the purpose and intent of the provisions of the City’s Zoning Regulations and with the policies of the City’s Comprehensive Plan. The Subject Property is zoned R-1, Single Residential District, is located in the Shoreland Management District and is guided as Low Density Residential on the Land Use Plan. 2. Practical Difficulties. The Applicant for a variance shall establish that there are practical difficulties in complying with the provisions of the Arden Hills Zoning Regulations. The term “Practical Difficulties” as used in the granting of a variance means: a. Reasonable Use. The property owner proposes to use the property in a reasonable manner not permitted by the Zoning Ordinance. According to the Applicant, storage of personal items for a single family home is a reasonable use of an accessory structure in the Shoreland Management District and shoreline impact zone. 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 Applicant, there is a thirty (30) foot grade difference in 100 feet, which creates a very steep slope to transport lake items up to store in the garage and is unique to the property, making it difficult to place the storage structure elsewhere. c. Character of Neighborhood. The variance, if granted, will not alter the essential character of the neighborhood. According to the Applicant the storage shed would be 30 feet below the adjoining neighbors, the natural vegetation on the east-facing rooftop and wall would become part of the natural setting intentionally restored by the current homeowner, making it inconspicuous and blended to the landscape. 3. Economic Consideration. Economic consideration alone does not constitute a practical difficulty. According to the Applicant 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: