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� <br />� <br />5.6 Other questions were raised with respect to how a garage that encroached into the <br />required front yard setback from Dale Court would affect the ability of motorists to see <br />children playing in the yard of a new house. The Planning Division believes that the <br />proposed structure will have a negligible effect; Attachment F2 shows this difference. <br />5.7 The May 11, 2005 survey (Attachment G is a portion of that survey) submitted with the <br />recent Minor Subdivision application shows a bituminous driveway that traverses the <br />subject parcel and serves the adjacent 1822 Dale Court property. One of the conditions <br />on the August 22, 2005 approval of the subdivision included the removal of this driveway <br />or the establishment of an access agreement; satisfaction of the condition will be, in turn, <br />a recommended condition on the approval of this variance request. If the driveway is to <br />be removed, Community Development staff recommends that Mr. Welp make the <br />removal a condition of the purchase agreement so that the current property owners (i.e., <br />Mr. & Mrs. Weleczski) are responsible for the expenses. <br />5.8 Section 1013 of the Code states: "Where there are practical difficulties or unusual <br />hardships in the way of carrying out the strict letter of the provisions of this code, <br />the Variance Board shall have the power, in a specific case and after notice and <br />public hearings, to vary any such provision in harmony with the general purpose <br />and intent thereof and may impose such additional conditions as it considers <br />necessary so that the public health, safety, and general welfare may be secured and <br />substantial justice done." <br />5.9 State Statute 462.357, subd. 6(2) provides authority for the city to "hear requests for <br />variances from the literal provisions of the ordinance in instances where their strict <br />enforcement would cause undue hardship because of circumstances unique to the <br />individual property under consideration, and to grant such variances only when it is <br />demonstrated that such actions will be in keeping with the spirit and intent of the <br />ordinance. `Undue hardship' as used in connection with the granting of a variance <br />means the property in question cannot be put to a reasonable use if used under <br />conditions allowed by the official controls, the plight of the landowner is due to <br />circumstances unique to the property not created by the landowner, and the <br />variance, if granted, will not alter the essential character of the locality. Economic <br />considerations alone shall not constitute an undue hardship if reasonable use for the <br />property exists under the terms of the ordinance ... The board or governing body as <br />the case may be may impose conditions in the granting of variances to insure <br />compliance and to protect". <br />5.10 The property in question cannot be put to a reasonable use if used under conditions <br />allowed bv the official controls: Designing a home to fit this uniquely shaped parcel is a <br />challenge that has stymied six other potential owner/builders. The Planning Division <br />continues to maintain that the required setbacks are too restrictive to accommodate a <br />home design of modest size, functional layout, and that is consistent with the appearance <br />of other homes in the area. The Planning Division has determined that the property <br />can be put to a reasonable use under the official controls if the VARIANCE request <br />is approved. <br />PF07-005 RVBA 020707 <br />Page 3 of 5 <br />