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. . . ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL - JANUARY 8, 2001 6 Councilmember Aplikowski commented she was prepared to follow the Planning Commission's recommendations, however, the staff recommendation stated it did not meet with the spirit of the Ordinance. She requested this be looked at by staff because Council cannot consider requests such as these both ways. Mr. Whittles replied the house was built in the 1940's, before the City even existed, and commented he could not go anywhere else with an addition. Councilmember Aplikowski replied she understood his situation, but the Council would need to look at the Ordinance so citizens in Mr. Whittles' position do not have to go through all of the problems Mr. Whittles encountered. Mayor Probst stated this area was not built to the same standards as they would build today and given the state of the Ordinance as it existed now, this was the process and he understood that staff needed to follow the Ordinance. He stated he was prepared to support this application because the facts supported it. Councilmember Larson stated this situation was the same as the lots around the lakes with the small and unusual shaped lots not fitting the Ordinances very well. He stated he believed this situation was unique because there was a portion of the house that already sat in the setback. He stated staff was doing the right thing with their recommendation and believed this also needed to be looked at. He stated his support of his application. He indicated the City needed to support homeowners who were trying to improve their property. Mr. Whittles indicated the foundation was part of the house and was not added. Councilmember Rem indicated she agreed with this application and also agreed that the Ordinance needed to be looked at to come up with guidelines that worked with the citizens rather than putting homeowners through this type of a process. Mr. Whittles indicated he was unhappy with the Planning Commission because only one person took the time to look at his property and the other properties in the neighborhood. He indicated he was very angry nobody took the time to deal with this. He stated the one no vote on the Planning Commission was from a member who did not even look at the area or his home. Mayor Probst indicated he understood Mr. Whittles' frustration with the process in general, but indicated Mr. Whittles' did receive professional opinions and treatment. Councilmember Grant indicated Item No.3 was important to him, and he supported the Planning Commission's recommendation given the set up of the house, and the fact that the addition would not extend past the existing structure in addition to the home being built prior to the City's Ordinances being in effect and, therefore, this did present a hardship to the applicant. Councilmember Larson stated the Planning Commission voted for Mr. Whittles' request. Mr. Whittles replied he realized that, but he would have been very angry if things had not gone his way.