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ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL — APRIL 10, 2023 11 Councilmember Holden asked what the distance would be between the two houses. Community Development Director Jagoe estimated the distance between the two homes would be 20 feet. Mayor Grant reviewed the front and rear yard setbacks for the lots. He asked if the front yard was facing the lake. Community Development Director Jagoe described how City ordinance defines lots and noted the rear yard for these two lots was the south property line, parallel with the road. Mayor Grant opened the public hearing at 8:50 p.m. Airika Coblentz, 3187 Lexington Avenue, requested the Council deny the variance request and reorientation of the property. She recommended Site Plan A be followed and not Site Plan B. She reported Site Plan B would create houses that are twice the size of the neighboring homes, which would not be in keeping with the character of the neighborhood. She discussed how these homes would not be consistent and would adversely impact the shoreline. She explained with big houses, comes big docks, big boats and disturbances along the shoreline. She questioned why Site Plan A was not moving forward. Sarah Albano, 3123 Shoreline Lane, stated she had many of the same concerns as Erica. She reported the size of the proposed homes was not in keeping with the neighboring properties. She explained she lives in an older home and she feared if this variance were allowed, the smaller homes on the lake would be torn down and replaced with large homes that were five feet apart. She urged the Council to not approve this variance as it would set a dangerous precedent. Mike Mezzenga, the applicant, explained he designated areas for building pads and reported no set house size had been determined for either of the two lots. He explained the new homes would be no larger than half the houses on the lake. He discussed how impervious surface requirements would determine the size of the homes on these lots. He stated he could support a change to the proposed setbacks, but asked why his project was being singled out. He reviewed an aerial photo of the lake and commented on the size and orientation of the neighboring homes. Airika Coblentz commented on how the applicant's property was unique because the road serving the two new lots ran perpendicular to the lake instead of being parallel to the lake. She reiterated that the footprints for the proposed lots were out of line with any other homes in the area. She noted the homes to the south were approximately 3,000 square feet in size and the homes to the north were 3,200 square feet in size. She indicated the two new homes would be quite a bit larger than this. She recommended Site Plan A be followed as this would allow for smaller homes and would not require the setbacks to be changed. She reported she would like the new homes to keep in character with the neighborhood. Mayor Grant closed the public hearing at 9:04 p.m. 10. NEW BUSINESS