CCP 03-29-2004 - Laserfiche WebLink

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"".J ~ ARDEN HILLS PLANNING COMMISSION - MARCH 3, 2004 2 e Commissioner Larson asked if Lake Lane was a private Street. Mr. Hellegers replied it was a public street. Commissioner Larson asked if all of the lots were platted in the 1940's. Mr. Hellegers replied they had been platted at that time. Commissioner Larson asked if all properties along Lake Lane were in the same situation, Mr. Hellegers relied all residents would need to request a variance on this street for any improvements. Commissioner Zimmerman asked if the two-car garagc would bc situated five foot closer than the existing garage to the front yard setback. Mr. Hellegers replied that was correct Chair Sand invited anyone for or against the variance to come forward and make comment. Robert Gibson, 1860 Lake Lane, stated he was speaking for this rcquest. He stated he had lived in the area since the 1970's and over the years, the improvements that need to be made to many of the homes have needed some sort of a variance, He stated this street was a great place to live and any improvements made were for the better. . Paul Spencer, 1963 Lake Lane, applicant, stated they had spent a great deal of time trying to figure out how to work with the lot as it existed, and the way the lot was configured in order for them to do anything, they would need a variance. He indicated he felt they had come up with something they liked and that would work with the existing neighborhood. Chair Sand closed the public hearing at 7: 18 p,m. Commissioner Zimmerman commended applicant for the well thought out design. Chair Sand agreed with Commissioner Zimmerman's comments, He stated this was an excellent presentation including floor plans and pictures. He noted this would be an improvement for the neighborhood. Commissioner Larson asked if they had a method in the Ordinances to change the setbacks from the street in that particular area, which would relax the normal setbacks, and therefore eliminate a lot of work on staffs part for variance requests. Mr. Hellegers replied one thing he could think of was if they could do an overlay district for the 14 homes in this area, which would eliminate a number of the variances that would be necessary otherwise. Commissioner Larson statcd it might behoove the City to look into something like this. He noted there was no objections to improvements such as this, . Mr. Hellegers stated he would look into this and bring this back to the Commission at a future date. Chair Sand stated if they did this for this street, they should also look at other difficult streets/neighborhoods to do overlay districts for those areas at the same time also.