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TO: Meagan Beekman, City Planner/Recycling Coordinator James Lehnhoff, Community Development Director FROM: Brian and Vanessa Ranallo RE: Revised variance request: 1563 Edgewater Ave. Arden Hills, MN Thank you both for taking the time to work with us on our revised variance application. After speaking with you, and evaluating our options with an architect and a builder representative, we have arrived at a new design. We are confident that this new plan satisfactorily addresses the vast majority of concerns previously expressed by the Planning Commission. Listed below is a summary of changes that we have made: • Decreased overall square footage of the building plan: The footprint of the proposed home hqs been reduced by over 400 square feet. • Reduced width of home: The proposed width of the home is 53'. This is actually slightly less then the existing home on the property. • Reduced depth of home: The new design eliminates the need for a front yard variance and lake side variance as requested in our initial application. • Centered home on lot: By centering this smaller design on the property, we have achieved a side yard setback on one side that meets city code and minimizes the impact on the adjacent property owner on the other side. Please note that our proposed changes have reduced the request to a single eastern side yard variance that would allow us to build essentially the same width structure that exists today. The revised survey shows that we meet the city's current setback requirements on the lake side, road side and west side of our property. The proposed setback on the east side of the home is 9.1'. Therefore, we only need to request a variance of 5.11' on the east side of the property. It is important to note that we have supplemented this revised information with a letter of support from the adjacent property owner on the side that requires the variance. As evidence that we are proposing a reasonably sized home for the lot, it is important to note that the plan meets the design criteria as defined by city ordinance. The proposed home meets all of the following requirements: Height requirement: The proposed height of the home would be less than the 35' height that is allowed by code. This has been done intentionally to avoid a "towering" structure amongst lower profile homes in the area. Floor area ratio requirement: The living space in the home is less than the 30% maximum as required by the city. Impervious surface coverage requirement: The proposed structure and lot improvements result in impervious surface coverage that is less than the 35% that is required by ordinance. In addition, we have given serious consideration to all of the items listed below as part of this revised proposal: