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<br />City of Arden Hills <br />Planning Commission Meeting for December 9th, 2020 <br />P:\Planning\Planning Cases\2020\20-017 3493 Siems Court - Var\PC Packets\12-9-2020 Page 6 of 10 <br /> <br /> Topographic Overlay of 3493 Siems Court, depicting the change in elevation on the Subject Property. <br /> <br />City Code Section 1330.03 Subd. 7 continues that, “the minimal amount of vegetation shall be <br />altered and sufficient vegetative cover shall remain to screen cars, dwellings and other structures <br />when viewed from public waters. Except for the removal of invasive species, clear cutting of <br />vegetation shall be prohibited. Native vegetation shall be restored insofar as feasible after any <br />construction project is completed to retard surface runoff and soil erosion.” The Applicant <br />mentioned within their original narrative that the existing deck would be unobtrusive by adding <br />natural, deep-rooting vegetation around specific areas near the proposed storage structure, creating <br />more coverage and reducing phosphorous runoff. The Applicant argues that this would protect the <br />shoreland after development by reducing the runoff that would otherwise cause water pollution <br />and decreasing the need for additional stormwater treatment infrastructure. <br /> <br />4. Variance Review Requirements – Section 1355.04 <br /> <br />The role of the Planning Commission is to determine and consider how the facts presented to them <br />compare with the city’s articulated standards. The Commission should base their decision on the <br />facts presented and then apply those facts to the legal standards contained in city ordinances and <br />relevant state law. Neighborhood opinion alone is not a valid basis for granting or denying a <br />variance request. While the Planning Commission may feel their decision should reflect the overall <br />will of the residents, the task of considering a variance request is limited to evaluating how the <br />variance application meets the statutory practical difficulties factors. Residents can often provide <br />important facts that may help in addressing these factors, however, unsubstantiated opinions and <br />reactions to a request do not form a legitimate basis for a variance decision. <br /> <br />The Planning Commission may impose conditions when granting variances as long as the <br />conditions are directly related and bear a rough proportionality to the impact created by the <br />variance. For instance, if a variance is granted to exceed the minimum OHWL setback requirement