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ARDEN HILLS PLANNING COMMISSION - FEBRUARY 2, 2005 5 Works Facility grounds, subject to the six conditions as noted in staffs February 2,2005 . report and the amended condition six as outlined by staff at tonight's meeting. The motion carried unanimously (6-0). C. PLANNING CASE 05-02: DEBRA AND WILLIAM THORNTON. 3510 SIEMS COURT: VARIANCE Chair Sand opened the public hearing at 7:33 p.m. Mr. Hellegers stated applicant was requesting an ll-foot front yard setback for an addition to the front of applicant's property in Arden Hills. Staff recommended approval of the request subject to the following conditions: 1. The applicant shall file all necessary building permits with the Building Official for approval prior to the issuance of a building permit. Building permits shall be submitted to the Building Official a minimum of two (2) weeks before the planned start of construction. Commissioner Zimmerman noted currently the house is 6.7 feet closer to the lot line than required. He asked if a variance was requested at the time the home was built. Mr. Hellegers replied there was no record of a variance requested. . Commissioner Modesette noted there was deck on the back ofthe house and she was not sure if unbuildable was accurate. Mr. Hellegers pointed out there was a steep grade which would make it difficult to build on. He noted the property was not very functional because of its narrowness. Commissioner Zimmerman asked if applicant was not requesting a variance and a building permit was issued would if this conforming property be grandfathered in. Mr. Hellegers replied it would be. Chair Sand asked how large the three-season porch on the back of the house was. Mr. Hellegers replied applicant was in attendance tonight and could answer that question. Chair Sand invited anyone for or against the variance to come forward and make comment. William Thornton, 3510 Siems Court, applicant, thanked City staff. He noted the staff was very helpful and cooperative with him. He summarized the history qf the lot and house. He noted the house had to be situated where it was because of the cliff in the back yard. He indicated they had no practical way of building back to the east. He stated the screened porch back edge had IS-foot posts that went down off the edge of the cliff. He indicated this was a very unusual lot. He noted to the south they had large oak trees that they did not want to disturb. He stated to the north there was a garage, which would need . to be demolished and a basement dug. He indicated one of the other problems they were facing was that the lot line was about 20 feet in from the edge of the road and that had created that on one edge their house it was 33 feet from the lot line. He noted their lot line curved in. He stated the home was built over 50 years ago. He indicated even with granting the II-foot variance at the north end of the proposed construction, they were still