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NARRATIVE, IN SUPPORT OF VARAINCE APPLICATION PURPOSE OF REQUEST. This is a request for a variance to the Roseville city code which limits the height of a fence to 6 feet 6 inches. I wish to extend an existing fence around the back part of our property from approximately 5 feet in height to 9 feet, to keep deer from entering. The 6.5 foot maximum fence height currently allowed in Roseville is not adequate to contain deer, according to both my experience and the University of Minnesota Extension Service.. The9 foot nominal height and construction methods are as recommended by the University of Minnesota Extension Service, Our property is about 3 acres in size, of which about an acre in the back of the property is currently fenced. This is the existing fence which will be extended to 9 feet. Repairs will be made to the existing fence if and as needed, and one new section will be added so that the 9 foot fence does not extend beyond the front of the house. Ordinarily this fence will not be visible from South Owasso Blvd and will be visible only from a small section of the Farrington Court cul-de-sac. I have completed the extension around my vegetable/annual flower garden, as I was unaware of the 6 feet 6 inch code limitation. This does, however, give me an opportunity to show what the completed fence looks like and to confirm its effectiveness. JUSTIFICATION. Horticulture for me has become a serious hobby, into which I have invested a lot of time and money. It proved to be almost a lifesaving aversion from the pain and fear of cancer when I was recovering from that in 1999-2000. I have grown fruit trees, raspberries, and an extensive vegetable and flower garden since the mid 1970's. At one point I had one of the largest hardy Rose collections in the state, and would still if it were not for deer damage. I have won at least one blue ribbon at the Minnesota State Fair in one or both of vegetables or flowers for the last several years. However, I do not sell any vegetables and flowers, because I give the vegetables to individuals and food shelves and flowers to our church to decorate the church and to distribute them to shut-ins. Last year I found a couple who could not afford wedding flowers so I gave them the flowers for their wedding. I consider this opportunity to share the results of my skills and hobby with the community very important, as much a justification for my growing as my own personal rewards for doing so. In the last several years the damage caused by deer has become increasingly severe. This started in 1995 with the construction of the Owasso Hills development on the School District property. Among the things I have lost to deer damage are (4) North Star cherry Trees, (3) apples of various types, (2) fruiting plums, and many (at least 25) roses. As the trees average $40 apiece, and the roses about $15 apiece, this is significant economic hardship that I have suffered. Many other fruit trees, shrubs, and roses have been damaged and parts of the vegetable and flower garden has been decimated. That damage was so severe in 2002 that it would have been futile to plant any vegetables and flowers this year without the extended height deer fence. In addition to the economic loss there is personal anxiety and heartbreak of watching the trees and plants that I had purchased and tended, destroyed by the deer. There is nothing that I did to cause this problem, nor could I have prevented it in any way. At the same time I am concerned about my safety. Last summer a deer that I was attempting to frighten away from some roses turned and started to approach me. Increasing the shouting volume eventually frightened that deer, but I have heard of serious injuries from deer. There is also the problem that deer introduce deer ticks, which carry Lyme disease. CONSTRUCTION DETAILS. The existing fence was extended in height with 4 foot sections of % inch galvanized pipe, with a % inch electrical conduit top rail, and fence fabric consisting of concrete reinforcing mesh hanging from the top rail (so that the fabric would not have to be stretched). The connectors at both the the bottom and top of the