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� .-. ordinance. `Undue hardship' as used in connection with the granting of a variance means the properry in question cannot be put to a reasonable use if used under conditions allowed by the official controls, the plight of the landowner is due to circumstances unique to the property not created by the landowner, and the variunce, if granted, will not alter the essential character of the locality. Economic considerations alone shall not constitute an undue hardship if reasonable use for the property exists under the terms of the ordinance ... The board or governing body as the case may be may impose conditions in the granting of variances to insure compliance and to protect ". 5.9 The propertv in question cannot be put to a reasonable use if used under conditions allowed by the official controls: The small size of the parcel and the size and location of the existing house definitely limits further expansion of the structure, but a 3-or-4-season porch could be constructed in the location of the back yard patio without requiring a vARiANCE. This leads Planning Division staff to be ambivalent about its support of the applicant's demonstration of hardship. On one hand, the applicant expressed in a phone conversation the need for an additional room that would be suitable for relaxing, interacting with neighbors, or doing computer- related office work from home; if the need is simply for an additional room (as opposed to the need for more space in an existing room - an expansion of the kitchen, for example) staff believes that the utilization of the unused patio could create an adequate space in compliance with zoning requirements. On the other hand, the applicant's written narratives (included with this staff report as a series of email communications in Attachment D) stress the importance a sunroom specifically, so staff has evaluated the request from the perspective that a sunroom is necessary, in which case the location of the existing patio at the northeast corner of the home is certainly unsuitable. If it were feasible to simply enclose the existing deck and integrate it with the adjacent pool structure, Planning Division staff would not be able to support the "hardship" claim and would recommend denial of the vAx�AlvcE request. When the nonconforming size and improvements of the property are combined with the structural constraints of the existing pool addition and the stated need for a sunroom, however, the case far "hardship" becomes more clear. Thus, the Planning Division has determined that the property can be put to a reasonable use under the official controls if a VARIANCE is approved. 5.10 The nli�ht of the landowner is due to circumstances unique to the propertv not created by the landowner: Substandard lots are not "unique" in Roseville, but they do present real challenges in light of the requirements of the City Code. The subject property was platted and improved long before the applicant purchased it, so the Planning Division has therefore determined that the plight of the landowner is due to circumstances not created by the landowner. 5.11 The variance, if �ranted, will not alter the essential character of the localit� The great majority of residential properties along Dellwood Avenue actually face the cross streets, making the Dellwood Avenue right-of-way line their side property lines. Nevertheless, many of the homes extend far into the required 30-foot setback from their respective Dellwood Avenue property lines; if the upper-level sunroom is made to look more like a split-level addition, the Planning Division believes that the allowance of vAR�ANCES will not alter the essential character of the locality, nor adversely affect the public health, safety, or general welfare of the city or adjacent properties. PF08-042 RVBA 110508 Page 3 of 4