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City of Arden Hills Planning Commission Meeting for December 9th, 2020 P:\Planning\Planning Cases\2020\20-017 3493 Siems Court - Var\PC Packets\12-9-2020 Page 7 of 10 within the Shore Impact Zone, any conditions attached should presumably relate to mitigating the effect of the encroachment. Deviations from the requirements for accessory structures in exceptional and unusual circumstances may be permitted after Planning Commission review and City Council approval in accordance with Section 1355.04 Subd 5 and with documentation showing the unusual circumstances justifying the proposed deviation and plans for the proposed accessory structure. The Planning Commission will need to determine, using the following variance findings and criteria, whether there are practical difficulties with complying with the zoning regulations. If the Applicant does not meet all three 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, 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.