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variance impair the health, safety, comfort and general welfare of the public, nor will it be contrary to the intent and purpose of the Comprehensive Plan, the official map or this or any other .- ordinance of the City." .. Variance Findings Minnesota State Stature 462,357, subd, 6, requires that Cities consider the following five matters when hearing requests for zoning ordinance variances, L Are the circumstances for which the variance is requested unique to the property? (YES) The properties have the unique feature of a shared driveway. While there are other properties in the City that have shared driveways, the combination of the shared driveway with several other features such as; no on-street parking at the location, the speed of traffic on Lexington Avenue, the amount of vehicle trips per day on Lexington Avenue, and the lack of shoulders to provide a safe access; create a very unique situation for the applicants, The properties are located with Karth Lake on the west, the park to the south and are cut off from any access except for directly to Lexington Avenue. Since the properties will have some access removed with the installation of the center median in the Lexington Avenue Reconstruction, the additional driveways would provide better access for the property owners. Other properties in Arden Hills may be located along busy streets or have shared driveways but staff has not encountered any other properties that have the same combination of situations as outlined above. Properties along Highway 96 or Hamline A venue may have access to a busy roadway but these properties either have roadway shoulders where they can move to when trying to access their properties or have far less traffic. Furthermore, staff has not seen an instance where one of these properties also has a shared driveway. . The applicants have expressed concern that with the existing shared drive is difficult for vehicles to enter and exit the properties at the same time. Since there is no shoulder on Lexington and the reconstruction would eliminate any left-turn in access, a vehicle could be stuck on Lexington Avenue waiting to access the property. The proposed additional driveways would eliminate such situations and provide safer access for both properties. 2. Would granting the variance be in keeping with the spirit and intent ofthe City's Zoning Ordinance? The stated Purpose and Intent of the City's Zoning Ordinance includes thirteen purposes, of those the following statements appear to be applicable: \\Earth\Planning\Planning Cases\2005\05-09 Radziej and Sabot Driveway Variances (PENDING)\02-02-05 PC Report Rodziej and Sabot Driveway Variances.doc Page 4 of7 .