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2. Revised Request The property owner is proposing to construct a 576 square foot below grade garage and a 192 square foot above grade addition to the existing one story home at 1455 Skiles Lane (Attachment A). In addition, the applicant proposes to construct a 144 square foot deck that would cantilever over the back of the new garage that would also encroach two feet into the permitted front yard setback for decks. The existing home is a walkout with a tuck under garage that faces the back of the property toward Snelling Avenue/Old Highway 10. The driveway enters the property from the south and curves to the west to access the existing garage (Attachment A). The property is unique compared to most other properties because the 40 foot front yard setback applies to the south, east, and west property lines. This is due to the property's location along the curve of Skiles Lane and adjacency to Snelling Avenue. If the lot were a traditional lot with a side yard, no variance would be required. The grade change from the front to the back yard would permit most of this addition to be located below grade and thus not be visible from Skiles Lane. Because of this lot configuration, alternative locations for a two car garage that meets building code are limited. Along Skiles Lane, the existing structure encroaches ten feet into the 40 foot front yard setback (Attachment A and B). The proposed addition would increase the encroachment by 13 feet; however, the above grade portion of the addition would remain in line with the existing 30 foot setback. The dwelling was constructed under a different set of zoning regulations and is likely a legally non -conforming structure. There are no previous variances on file for this property. The subject lot was likely required to meet different setback regulations when the dwelling was constructed in 1954; however, those exact regulations are not available. Although being subject to different regulations when the building was constructed does not automatically warrant the approval of a variance, it may help provide context for why the structure was built with what would now be considered front yard setback encroachments. Staff did additional research and found that a 30 foot setback is common along Skiles Lane; additionally, setback variances have been approved for other properties in the neighborhood along Skiles Lane and Arden Place for similarly shaped lots. While the granting of previous variance requests does not set a precedent for approval of this variance request, it does help provide additional context to the neighborhood. A full survey of the neighborhood would be needed to verify the exact setbacks of other lots. The applicant has submitted a revised site plan and elevations of the proposed addition, a letter addressing the variance evaluation criteria, a letter describing the landscaping plan, and a letter addressing alternative locations for the garage. (Attachment A). City of Arden Hills Planning Commission Meeting for February 6, 2008 I Uhdocsll ahWHdatalPlanninglPlanning Cases12007107-029 Wessberg Variance (PC TABLED)1020608 -PC Report - Wessberg Variance.doc Page 2 of 8