1A, Planning Case 09-003, Zoning Code Amendment

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January 30, 20 Ms. Meagan Beekman, Planner City of Arden Hills 1245 Highway 96 west Arden Dills, Minnesota 55112 Re: Proposed Amendment to Setback Requirements Dear Ms. Beekman: I reside at 1569 Edgewater Avenue and I am writingto express m concern over the City of p Y y Arden Hills' proposed amendment to the Zoning Code regarding the "minus ten(10) feet"g g proposal for shoreland setback requirements based on adjacent lots. While I hope to attend the Public Hearing on February 3, 2009, in case I am unable to attend, please forward this correspondence to the City Planning Commission and City Council for their consideration in reviewing the pending variance requests. My primary concern is that the "minus ten(10) feet" language will gradually allow new homes _ g Y or additions to existing homes to reach the minimum shoreland setback of 50 feet. For example, if my neighbor builds a new home 10 feet closer to the shore than my home, then my neighbor's neighbor can build a new home even closer to the shore, and so on and so on until the homes hit the 50 foot setback minimum. Just as importantly, I am concerned about the impact to our view Y p of the lake and surrounding lands if neighboring homes are allowed to be 10 feet closer to the lake than mine. In my neighborhood, all the existing homes, except one, are setback approximately 100 feet from Y the shore; more than double the general minimum requirement of 50 feet. This has created a consistent neighborhood character of substantial green space aloe the lake and a great g environmental buffer between Lake Johanna and shoreland homes. If the proposed amendment . p p is adopted, the essential neighborhood character will gradually be destroyed. I am also concerned on the potential impact on Lake Johanna's water quality if the buffer zone between q Y homes and the lake is gradually cut in half Further, the lots in my neii4hborhood are quite narrow so there is often little room between homes. Given the closeness of the homes, allowing an adjacent home to be built 10 feet closer to the lake will likely drastically reduce my views of the lake and surrounding land. I am afraid that homeowners whose view is reduced b neighboring new construction, will quickly respond with new construction of their own even closer to the lake. I encourage you to eliminate the "minus ten(10) feet" language from the proposed amendment p p to lake front setbacks based on adjacent lots and require that any new home or addition to a dwelling be setback from the shore not less than the average shoreland setbacks for existing adjacent dwellings. Sincerely, Elizabeth J. Stanton