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only a one-car facility, Planning Divisionstaffwould have been supportive of the <br />45 <br />proposed two-car expansion; even though the result would have been athree-car garage, <br />46 <br />staff felt that the proposal would a reasonable way to create a functional garage. <br />47 <br />However, the home already includes a two-car garage, inconvenient though the tandem <br />48 <br />arrangement might be, and Planning Division staff cannot recall supporting a variance <br />49 <br />request that would have facilitated a four-car garage. And the applicant’s narrative <br />50 <br />indicates that they would be content enough to parkon the driveway, but for the <br />51 <br />messiness of the birch tree branches reaching over the driveway parking area. <br />52 <br />Because the proposal would create a four-car garage, and because the need for the <br />53 <br />variance could be eliminated by trimming or removing the offending birch tree, Planning <br />54 <br />Divisionstaff believes that the proposaldoes not make “reasonable”use ofthe subject <br />55 <br />propertyas intended by the zoning code. <br />56 <br />d. <br />There are unique circumstances to the property which were not created by the <br />57 <br />landowner.The subject property is 80 feet wide, which is less than the minimum required <br />58 <br />width established in the subdivision code, but the parcel was likely created prior to the <br />59 <br />adoption of those standards in 1956. If the parcel conformed to the 85-foot width <br />60 <br />requirement,it is possible that a more convenient two-car garage could be created <br />61 <br />without the requested variance.Planning Division staff believesthat narrow parcel width <br />62 <br />isthekind ofunique characteristicthat could justifythe approval of the requested <br />63 <br />variance. <br />64 <br />e. <br />The variance, if granted, will not alter the essential character of the locality.Most, if not <br />65 <br />all, of the homes in the neighborhood surrounding the subject property have garages <br />66 <br />which do conform to the standards of the zoning code. <br />67 <br />Section 1009.04 (Variances) of the City Code also explains that the purpose of a varianceis “to <br />68 <br />permit adjustment to the zoning regulations where there are practical difficulties applying to a <br />69 <br />parcel of land or building that prevent the property from being used to the extent intended by the <br />70 <br />zoning.” Theproposalappears to compare favorably with mostof theaboverequirements <br />71 <br />essential for approving variances, but this provision of the zoning code is another way of making <br />72 <br />sure properties can be put to “reasonable use” as discussed above. The zoning code intends for a <br />73 <br />residential property to be developed with a suitable residence and a serviceable garage. Because <br />74 <br />the property already has a two-car garage, even though the garage does not accommodate <br />75 <br />everything the homeowner would like, Planning Division staff finds that the property is currently <br />76 <br />being used to the extent intended by the zoningcode. <br />77 <br />Roseville’s Development Review Committee(DRC) met on February 11, 2016,todiscuss this <br />78 <br />application.The only concern of the DRC not discussed above was that the proposed garage <br />79 <br />addition (and the presumed expansion of the driveway to match the additional garage width) <br />80 <br />might cause the property to exceed 30% coverage of impervious surfaces. If the variance were to <br />81 <br />be approved, the homeowner would need to complete a Residential Storm Water Permit <br />82 <br />application to mitigate the additional rain water runoff generated by the additional impervious <br />83 <br />area. <br />84 <br />PC <br />UBLIC OMMENT <br />85 <br />At the time this report was prepared, Planning Division staff has receivedone phone call and one <br />86 <br />email expressing some level of concern and opposition to the proposal.The written comments <br />87 <br />are included with this application as Attachment D. <br />88 <br />PF16-008_RVBA_20160302 <br />Page 3of 4 <br /> <br />