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Attachment D c. The proposal is consistent with the intent of the zoning ordinances because while the 32 proposed shed would be located in the front yard approximately 16 feet from the 33 street curb, its location would be on one of the few flat useable areas of the property. 34 The shed would also be somewhat screened behind a lilac hedgerow, and the 35 proposed location lies a few feet further from the street than the adjacent parcels 36 attached garage. 37 d. The proposal makes reasonable and practical use of the subject property given the 38 challenges presented by the topographical, landscaping, and mature tree. Although 39 the property has a small flat useable area directly adjacent to the rear of the home, 40 this is the only portion of the lot that can be used by the family for play or recreation. 41 The only other reasonable option is within the front yard. This area supports better 42 use of the shed for storage as it lies adjacent to small, single-stall, tuck-under garage. 43 e. The unique circumstances of this property would be the topographic challenges, 44 landscaping, and mature trees, all of which play a role in determining where new shed 45 could be placed in compliance with the code. Most of the yard has dramatic slopes, 46 except for a small portion of the rear, directly adjacent to the back of the house and a 47 small area in the front yard. The rear area is narrow and runs the length of the home 48 and is currently used by the homeowner’s two children for recreation. Placing the 49 new shed in the back yard would require it to be placed south of the current location 50 by a number of feet. This placement, given the current design of the yard and home 51 features such as windows and rear door means the shed would take up nearly 1/3 of 52 the only usable back yard area of the property. Planning Division staff believes that 53 the topographic challenges of the property, the limited useable flat area for play and 54 recreation, and the mature trees are the kinds of unique characteristics that justify the 55 approval of the requested variance. 56 f. Although encroachments into the required front yard setback are rare, they have 57 occurred throughout the past years, especially given the age of the community’s 58 housing, home styles, and other site challenges such as topography. While the 59 homeowners have become accustomed to their limited recreational area, eliminating a 60 portion of this small, private area does not appear to be in the best interest of the 61 homeowners or the City. The location of the new shed is essentially the same as the 62 neighboring garage, but unlike the garage, the shed will be partially screened from 63 view. For these reasons, the , if approved, would not negatively alter the 64 VARIANCE character of the surrounding residential neighborhood. 65 Page 2 of 4