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<br />ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL - June 26, 2000 <br /> <br />5 <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />added she is not against what he is offering and if the roadway came close to the structure in <br />future, it could be dealt with at that time, She stated she is in favor of the proposal. <br /> <br />Councilmember Rem stated she agrees with Councilmember Aplikowski that the house would be <br />improved by the addition and it makes sense to allow the changes to take place, She added that <br />the existing foundations are above grade and are solid, <br /> <br />Councilmember Grant stated he is in favor of the applicant's plans, He added Mr. Mertensotto <br />wants to improve the property and has produced a few alternatives, He noted the house was in <br />that location prior to the street being laid, and that makes the property nonconforming, He asked <br />whether removal of the proposed structure could be made conditional upon the widening of the <br />roadway, <br /> <br />Ms, Chaput stated that once the addition is approved it is permitted to stay there until it is ripped <br />down or destroyed as it is nonconforming and can not be reconstructed, <br /> <br />Councilmember Larson expressed his support of the applicant's plans, He stated the house is in <br />a prominent position in the city and any improvement is welcome given the condition of the <br />house, He added that it is located across from a park that the County is extensively redeveloping, <br /> <br />Councilmember Larson noted that the proposed improvements will be constructed on existing <br />footings, and will be constructed so as to be easily removed, if necessary, He stated that the lot's <br />. unique circumstances warrant a variance in this case, He reiterated his support of the request. <br /> <br />Mayor Probst asked whether landscaping could be requested as a condition of approval. Mr. <br />Lynch stated that is permissible, Mayor Probst expressed concern that a precedent might be set <br />if approval was granted when no hardship was demonstrated, He stated a combination of the <br />proposed improvements and additional landscaping might make a valuable distinction from other <br />neighborhoods, <br /> <br />Mayor Probst stated he is prepared to support the request, He added that if the applicant is <br />willing to accept conditions with regard to additional landscaping, there might be a way to <br />approve without creating a precedent, <br /> <br />Mr. Lynch stated it is pennissiblc for the Council to add conditions as they see fit. <br /> <br />Councilmember Rem stated the applicant should be present to address the conditions, Mayor <br />Probst agreed that would be fair. Cow1Cilmember Rem stated the addition is proposed over <br />existing and visible foundations, which is more applicable than an addition proposed where there <br />has been nothing in the past, <br /> <br />Mayor Probst stated this is an historic house in the city which creates some additional interest in <br /> <br />the case, <br /> <br />. Councilmember Grant asked where additional screening would be recommended, Mayor Probst <br />stated the garages behind the home tend to be visible from the roadway, Councilmember Grant <br />