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<br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Any attempt to improve the existing structure through additions which met the current <br />setbacks would result in a house that was even longer and narrower. Additions to the <br />rear would not be an option to the steep hillside on the eastern edge of the property. <br /> <br />4. <br /> <br />Was the hardship created by the owner? <br /> <br />(NO) The hardship in this case is steep hillside on the eastern portion of the property. <br />This hillside terrain makes it near impossible to add on to the property on the side where <br />the most building envelope remains. In addition, the property lines are not rectangular <br />as the Zoning Ordinance assumes; there is a large curve at the southwestern corner of <br />the property which causes the front and street side setbacks to mirror this curve. <br /> <br />5. Would granting the variance alter the essential character of the neighborhood? <br /> <br />(NO) The addition to the front of the home would improve the curb appeal allowing the <br />applicant's home to be more in tune with an area that has seen many home addition <br />projects. Furthermore, this structure is the longest, narrowest house in the area. The <br />addition would make the structure more consistent with the surrounding homes. Finally, <br />the subject property is located in a unique neighborhood of lakeshore homes where many <br />of the homes are closer to the front property line than the Zoning Ordinance would allow. <br /> <br />RecommendatiOn <br /> <br />In Planning Case #05-02, staff recommends that the request for an ll-foot Front Yard setback <br />variance be approved to allow for the construction of a new addition to the western side ofthe <br />applicant's house subject to the following condition: <br /> <br />1. Thc applicant shall file all necessary building permits with the Building Official for <br />approval prior to the issuance of a building permit. Building permit plans shall be <br />submitted to the Building Official a minimum of two (2) weeks before the planned start <br />of construction. <br /> <br />Plan Review Comments <br /> <br />A. Building Permit Plans shall be submitted to the Building Official a minimum of two (2) <br />weeks before the planned start of construction. <br />B. No construction shall begin before plans are approved by the City of Arden Hills' <br />Building Official. <br />C. The Planning Commission has recently discussed whether the Zoning Ordinance should <br />be amended to allow front porches reviewed and approved through an administrative <br /> <br />\\Earth\Planning\Planning Cases\2005\05-02 Thorton Variance (PENDlNG)\02-02-05 PC Report Thornton Variance.doc <br /> <br />Page 5 of6 <br />