CCP 07-28-2003 - Laserfiche WebLink

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" .' fl , f -', :"-"'~.--' RECE" ,.- . . ~Vt:L' r) David A. Dobratz Martha.J. Dobratz 144O"".an Oaks Trail _..........55112 JUN - G Z003 CITY OF .'\RDEi" ":0-"._ Home: 6S1-636-~ David WoOC: 612-304-5012 Martha Wark: 651-631-6260 June 5, 2003 City of Arden Hills ladies and Genllemen: This IelIer is in support of our variance request to replace and enhance the existing 30 year old deck on our home. The varianoe request is due to the fact that the existing deck on the rear of our home extends i1to the. 30' rear selback area currenlIy defined by slalule with the rear of the home approximately 30' from the rear lot line bordering our ploperty with the North most edge of Floral Park. The placement of the deck on the home was done as part of the initial conslrudion of the home in 1973. Our proposed deck replacement and enhancement is lwofold: (1) modetaIeIy expand the square footage of the wrrent deck in the rear of our home to acca...1Odate a liee slanding. screened PeIgola (lIeItical posts with Il1IlIQVabIe screen panels on the top and sideS) and (2), add a 13' x 14' "lower deck" . to aIkM lOr more open seating area on the 0IIeIaIl deck (see B(X)OIIIpaI oying pIanIdrawings) . Also, because of the extreme shade caused by the very maIuIe trees and undeIbrush bordering us with Floral PaIk, we haYe been unable to grow any type of shade grass 01" plants in the area below the proposed ~ "lower deck". Thus, the new "lower deck" wi help enhance the value of our home by adding an atIractive, usable space that blends and complimenls the 'MlOded Floral Park bolder. In support of the above information togelher with the cily's variance request requiremenls, we would like to discuss the following: 1. Conditions that CR!ate a hanlship and would ptohibit reasonable development without a Variance The hardship aeated is the original placement of the home on the lot when it was built in 1973- i.e., to the very Soulh-EasI oomer of the lot albeit the lot is quite large (.42 acres in size - see the accompanying site map). Since the existing deck is ateady in the CUITeI1t rear-d.fue.home selback area, any reasonable enhancement to the deck is prohibited by slaIute. However, we would ask that you consider the 29' of densely wooded area bordering our Southern lot line with Floral Par\( in the spirit and intent of a 'selback' (see accompanying photographs labeled 'A 1', '81', '63' and 'E). 2. Conditions on the property that create a hardship that ani not present on similar sized lots in the same district .