6.3. SR 09-15-1997.~y of
iver
MEMORANDUM
Item #6.3.
TO:
FROM:
DATE:
Mayor & City Council
Scott Harlicker, Planning Assistant
September 15, 1997
SUBJECT: Request for Variance by Greg Peterson,
Public Hearing Case No. V 97-6
Request
Consider a request by Greg Peterson for a variance to the maximum area for
accessory buildings.
Location
14270 191st Avenue; Lot 13, Block 1, Village Estates 2nd Add.
Zoning/Land Use
Rlb (Single Family Residential) / MR (Medium Density Residential)
Attachments
Location map
Site plan
· Letter from applicant
Petition from neighbors
Overview
Greg Peterson is proposing to construct a 30' X 40' (1200 s.f.) detached
garage. The applicant has a 24' X 32' (768 s.f.) attached garage. In his letter
he states that he needs the garage for storage space and as an area which he
can utilize for his hobbies (woodworking, trapping and taxidermy)
which require heated space. With the proposed detached garage, he will
exceed the 1200 square foot maximum allowed for accessory building area by
768 square feet.
13065 Orono Parkway · P.O. Box 490 · Elk River, MN 55330 · TDD & Phone: (612) 441-7420 ° Fax: (612) 441-7425
The property is approximately 1 acre in area, level with woods in the rear.
The woods will help screen the proposed garage from the adjacent properties.
The applicant has included a petition signed by the neighbors in support of
granting the variance.
The applicant could construct a 20' X 22' garage and comply with the 1200
square foot maximum. However, a garage of this size, which is the size of a
two car garage, would not be large enough to meet the applicant's needs.
Variance
A variance may be granted only if it meets the following five conditions:
1. Literal enforcement of the ordinance will cause undue hardship.
o
The hardship is caused by special conditions and circumstances which
are peculiar to the property and the structure involved and which are
not characteristic of, or applicable to, other lands or structure in the
same area.
o
The literal application of the provisions of this ordinance would
deprive the petitioner of rights enjoyed by other properties in the same
district under the terms of this ordinance.
o
The special conditions and circumstances are not a consequence of the
petitioner's own action or inaction.
o
The variance will not be injurious to or adversely affect the health,
safety or welfare of the residents of the City or the neighborhood
where the property is located and will in keeping with spirit and intent
of the ordinance.
Board of Adiustment Meeting
At the Board of Adjustment meeting of August 26, 1997 no one spoke at the
public hearing. The Board was not convinced that the applicant met the
criteria needed to grant a variance. It was noted that he could build a 440
square foot garage and not need a variance. The applicant stated that he
required more space than that because of the space that his woodworking
tools took up.
The Board of Adjustment voted to deny the variance request; they did not feel
that the applicant met the met the following criteria:
Literal enforcement of the ordinance will cause undue hardship. The
Board felt that the applicant did not adequately show that he would suffer
an undue hardship if the variance for the 1200 square foot garage was not
granted.
Recommendation
The Board of Adjustment denied the variance request because they felt that
the applicant did not adequately address the hardship criteria. However, if
the applicant can provide additional information showing that the without
the 1200 square foot garage he would suffer undue hardship, staff could
support the granting of the variance.
If the City Council decides to grant this variance request, the following
findings are offered for the Council to consider in support of granting the
variance:
LITERAL ENFORCEMENT OF THE ORDINANCE WILL CAUSE UNDUE HARDSHIP IN THAT
THE APPLICANT NEEDS THE ADDITIONAL SPACE FOR STORAGE AND TO USE FOR HIS
HOBBIES. BECAUSE HIS HOBBIES INCLUDE TRAPPING AND TAXIDERMY, IT IS
DESIRABLE TO HAVE A HEATED SPACE SEPARATE FROM THE HOUSE.
THE HARDSHIP IS CAUSED BY SPECIAL CONDITIONS AND CIRCUMSTANCES WHICH
ARE PECULIAR TO THE PROPERTY AND NOT CHARACTERISTIC OF, OR APPLICABLE TO,
OTHER LANDS IN THE SAME AREA. BECAUSE OF THE SIZE OF THE LOT A 40, X 30'
GARAGE WOULD NOT BE OUT OF PLACE. THE 1200 SQUARE FOOT MAXIMUM WAS
ESTABLISHED WITH SMALLER SIZE LOT IN MIND.
THE LITERAL APPLICATION OF THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ORDINANCE WOULD DEPRIVE
THE PETITIONER OF RIGHTS ENJOYED BY OTHER PROPERTIES IN THE SAME DISTRICT
UNDER THE TERMS OF THIS ORDINANCE. THERE IS ONE OTHER PROPERTY ON THE CUL
DE SAC THAT HAS A DETACHED GARAGE SIMILAR TO THE ONE BEING PROPOSED BY
THE APPLICANT.
e
THE SPECIAL CONDITIONS AND CIRCUMSTANCES ARE NOT A CONSEQUENCE OF THE
PETITIONER'S OWN ACTION OR INACTION.
5,
THE VARIANCE WILL NOT BE INJURIOUS TO OR ADVERSELY AFFECT THE HEALTH,
SAFETY OR WELFARE OF THE RESIDENTS OF THE CITY OR NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE THE
PROPERTY IS LOCATED AND WILL BE IN KEEPING WITH THE SPIRIT AND INTENT OF THE
ORDINANCE. THE GARAGE WILL BE SCREENED WITH THE EXISTING WOODS AND THE
ADJACENT PROPERTY OWNERS AND NEIGHBORS HAVE SIGNED A PETITION IN
SUPPORT OF THE GRANTING OF THE VARIANCE.
It is also recommended that if the variance request is approved, the following
condition should be included:
1. The proposed garage shall not be constructed with a metal exterior.
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[3065 Orono P:~kway · P.O. Box 490
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?£ OF-
FOR
Lot 13, Block 1, VILLAGE ESTATES 2nd ADDITION, Sherburne County, Minnesota.
I hereby certify that this survey was prepared by me or under my direct supervision, is correct to the best of my
knowledge and belief, was executed in accordance with the current Recommended Procedures For The Practice Of Land
Surveying adopted by the Minnesota Land Surveyors Association, and that I am a duly licensed Land Surveyor under
the laws of the State of Minnesota. This certificate shows the location of a proposed building, as staked by us,
on said land, elevations, and the location of all visible encroachments, if any, from or on said land. No
liability is assumed except to the client for whom this survey was prepared, his heirs, and assigns, and said
liability is asssumed only for the actual cost of this survey.
~n~n O. Oliver, Land Surveyor
Minnesota License No. 8194
Date: April 28, 1986
~ Greg Peterson propose to build a garage, 30' ~ 40' on said
property. I have several reasons why I need and want ito
I have outgrown my home and need more storage space.
I also have several hobbies which require heated space,
such as woodworking, trapping, and taxidermy.
~ would also like to c~ean up my yard and store more things indoors.
~Y lot is all woods where said garage would be built so it will be we~l
hidden. Also my neighbor to the west already has one°
We the neighbors of Greg Peterson 14270 191 st ave approve of
the construction of said garage.