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BPO ACKGROUND AND ROPOSALVERVIEW 1 Ramsey County reports that the home was built in 1955, however, no building records exist for 2 the shed. This is not uncommon, as sheds were not required to be permitted until approximately 3 1989. The home includes a small, single-stall, tuck-under garage and an existing shed near the 4 rear of the home along the north property line. The shed is visible in Ramsey County’s aerial 5 photography beginning in 1991. In earlier photography is difficult to see if it is there or not. 6 The existing shed lies directly east and slightly north of the northeasterly rear corner of the 7 home, and is on or slightly over the property line. 8 From 2009 (when the home was purchased) until May 15, 2015, the applicant became 9 accustomed to the limits of their small garage and shed. However, on May 15, 2015, a hail 10 storm damaged the home and ruined the shed. Since then the applicants have been working with 11 their insurance company and the City to replace the shed and find a more appropriate location so 12 that it is no longer on or over the property line. 13 The subject parcel has a very challenging topography, and the property includes extensive 14 landscaping and mature trees. While the insurance company would replace the shed, they have 15 been reluctant to cover relocation, site preparation, and associated costs. Replacement of the 16 shed would require the new shed to be placed in a setback compliance location, but such a 17 location reduces the rear yard activity area for the applicant use. The flat yard area is the only 18 open space on the property other than small portions of the front yard. 19 Planning Division staff worked with the homeowners last year on what could be termed a Code 20 compliant location in the southwest property corner, but this location would require extensive 21 site preparation and unique grading to elevate water damage to the new shed. Given the site 22 challenges, the homeowners are seeking a variance to place the shed in the front yard area where 23 the lot is the flattest and in a location that is more readily accessible to the family. 24 The written narrative detailing the proposal is included with this report as Attachment C. 25 VA ARIANCENALYSIS 26 City Code §1004.02 (Accessory Buildings) requires accessory storage structures in the LDR-1 27 zoning district to be set back at least 30 feet from the front property line and at least 5 feet from a 28 side and rear yard property line. 29 Replacement of the existing shed in a Code compliant location would eliminate a portion of the 30 only useable and relatively flat area of the lot as the shed would need to be placed further into 31 the yard given the required setbacks. Additionally, relocating a shed elsewhere on the property 32 that meets setbacks requirements is no easy task especially given the property’s topography, 33 landscaping, and mature trees. Thus, a sensible location for the shed happens to lie in the front 34 yard approximately 28 feet south of the driveway tucked behind a hedge-row of lilacs. The 35 location would be set back approximately 16 feet from the street curb and within the private 36 property. 37 Building setback requirements in a residential district are intended to advance a few goals: one is 38 to preserve useable private space in side and rear yards, another is to maintain some uniformity 39 in the distances of homes from street frontages, and another is to locate accessory uses beside or 40 behind the residence on a property. 41 PF16-011_RVBA_050416 Page 2 of 4