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City of Arden Hills City Council Meeting for January 11, 2021 P:\Planning\Planning Cases\2020\20-017 3493 Siems Court - Var\CC Packet\NB Page 4 of 6 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, the storage of recreational water equipment for a single family home is a reasonable use of an accessory structure within the Shoreland Management District. 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 every 100 feet, which creates a very steep slope to transport lake items up to store in the garage. This 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 Applicant is proposing to add landscaping to assist in screening the structure and 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 reviewed this application at their December 9, 2020, meeting and have offered the following findings of fact for your consideration: 1. City Staff received a land use application for a request to build an accessory structure for storage at the Subject Property 3493 Siems Court. 2. Storage of personal items is a permitted use for an accessory structure in the R-1 Single Family Residential District. 3. The Subject Property has a steep downward slope in the rear yard that prevents the Applicant from building on much of the site. 4. The Subject Property meets the minimum lot size, width, and length requirements for the R-1 District. 5. The Applicant is requesting flexibility with the maximum height and size restrictions for an accessory storage shed located within the Ordinary High Water Level (OHWL) setback requirement for Lake Johanna. 6. The rear yard setback requirement for a proposed accessory structure is determined by the OWHL of Lake Johanna.