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Floor Area Ratio — Meets Requirements The R-1 District permits for a maximum floor area ratio of .3. Floor area is calculated as the sum of the gross horizontal area of all floors of a building as measured in square feet from the exterior walls, but not including decks; space where the average floor -to -ceiling height is less than six feet; attached or detached garages; and other detached accessory structures. For the Subject Property, the maximum floor area permitted is 4,226.1 square feet. The existing floor area for the lot is 3,550 square feet and the floor area ratio is .252. The proposed addition includes an upper level principal structure addition above the attached garage addition which would increase the property's floor area by 386 square feet for a total of 3,936 square feet and a floor area ratio of .279. This calculation is based on the design option without the additional dormer window. The Applicant has stated that the design option with the additional dormer window would increase the property's floor area by an additional 52 square feet for a total increase of 438 square feet. The total floor area would be 3,988 square feet and the floor area ratio would be .283. Square footage will be confirmed during the building permit application review. 2. Variance Review The role of the City Council is to determine and consider how the facts presented to them compare with the city's articulated standards. The Council should base their decision on the facts presented and then apply those facts to the legal standards contained in city ordinances and relevant state law. Neighborhood opinion alone is not a valid basis for granting or denying a variance request. While the City Council may feel their decision should reflect the overall will of the residents, the task in considering a variance request is limited to evaluating how the variance application meets the statutory practical difficulties factors. Residents can often provide important facts that may help in addressing these factors, however, unsubstantiated opinions and reactions to a request do not form a legitimate basis for a variance decision. The City Council may impose conditions when granting variances as long as the conditions are directly related and bear a rough proportionality to the impact created by the variance. For instance, if a variance is granted to exceed the front setback limit, any conditions attached should presumably relate to mitigating the effect of the encroachment. 3. Variance Requirements — Section 1355.04, Subd. 4 The Applicant requests a variance to construct an addition to the east elevation of their existing principal structure and attached garage that would impede on the required side yard setback on a corner lot in the R-1, Single Family Residential District. The City Council will need to make a determination utilizing the following variance findings and criteria on whether there are practical difficulties with complying with the zoning regulations. If the Applicant does not meet all the 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. 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 variance request for 1511 Dawn Circle is for a proposed attached garage and upper level addition. The Subject Property is zoned R-1, Single Family Residential District and is guided as Low Density Residential on the Land Use Plan. Page 5 of 8