8.6. SR 08-19-19962ity of
ITEM 8.6.
'vel-
MEMORANDUM
TO:
FROM:
DATE:
Mayor and City Council
Lindahl, Zoning Assistant~~(~
Kendra
August 19, 1996
SUBJECT: Variance Request by Jerry Kunza,
Public Hearing Case No. V 96-08
Request
The applicant is requesting a variance to encroach on both the front and the
side yard setback requirements, as well a 20 square foot variance to the
maximum allowable accessory structure area.
Location
10313 Twin Lakes Road NW, Elk River, MN 55330
PID #75-125-2300
Attachments
Memo to Planning Commission dated July 23, 1996
Background
The applicant is requesting a 25 foot variance from the required 35 foot front
yard setback and a 10 foot variance from the required 20 foot side yard
setback. The proposed pole building will be 10 feet from both the front and
side lot lines. The front property line is located off of a private driveway
which serves only one residence and a farm field north of the applicant.
The applicant is proposing to build a 1,620 square foot storage building on
the property. The applicant currently has a 240 square foot yard barn, and a
660 square foot attached garage on the property. With the addition of this
pole barn, the applicant will have 2,520 square feet of accessory structure
area. Properties in this zoning district are allowed a maximum accessory
structure area based on the parcel size:
13065 Orono Parkway · P.O. Box 490 · Elk River, MN 55330 · (612) 441-7420 · Fax: (612) 441-7425
Memo to the Mayor and City Council Page 2
August 19, 1996
· I acre to 2.5 acres are allowed 2,500 square feet of accessory structure
area.
· >2.5 acres to 5.0 acres are allowed 3,000 square feet of accessory structure
area.
This parcel is 2.5 acres and is allowed 2,500 square feet of accessory structure
area. The applicant has proposed 2,520 square feet of accessory structure
area. This is 20 square feet more than is allowed by the newly amended
ordinance. Under the old ordinance, the applicant would only have been
allowed 2,000 square feet of accessory structure area. Therefore, in staffs
opinion, there is no hardship in limiting the applicant to 2,500 square feet of
accessory structure area. The applicant will need to reduce the size of the
proposed pole barn by at least 20 square feet.
The applicant is limited as to where the storage building may be placed
because the land drops off to the west of the existing yard barn, and would
require a significant amount of fill in order to create a suitable building site.
The drain field is located in the only fiat part of the property. Requiring the
pole building to meet the required setbacks will result in the loss of one or
two mature trees, as well as a significant amount of fill. In the past, the
Planning Commission and City Council have used tree preservation as a
finding in granting a variance.
The yard barn is located in the proposed location of the new storage shed, and
will be moved to the rear of the property near the garden.
Recommendation
Staff and the Planning Commission recommend approval of the variance
request to allow a 10 foot front yard setback and a 10 foot side yard setback,
and denial of the variance request to exceed the maximum accessory
structure area by 20 square feet, based on the following findings and
conditions:
Findings
1) The literal enforcement of the ordinance setback requirements would
cause undue hardship because the applicant would not be able to meet
setbacks for the pole building without adding a significant amount of
fill or cutting down mature oak trees.
2) That the hardship caused by the topography of the site, which makes it
difficult to contract a building at the setback line, due to the drop-off,
which would require extensive fill and the loss of several mature trees.
s:\planning\kendra\v96-08.doc
Memo to the Mayor and City Council
August 19, 1996
Page 3
3) That the special conditions and circumstances are not a consequence of
the petitioner's own action or inaction, but rather a result of the
topography of the site.
4) That the variance will not be injurious to or adversely affect the
health, safety or welfare of the residents of the City or the
neighborhood wherein the property is situated and will be in keeping
with the spirit and intent of the Ordinance.
Conditions
1. That the proposed pole barn does not exceed 1,600 square feet, in order to
comply with the maximum accessory structure area allowed in this zoning
district.
2. The proposed pole barn will be moved as far south as possible without
requiring cutting down the mature trees located on the property.
3. The existing yard barn and dog kennel will be moved to the rear of the
property and both will be required to meet all setbacks.
s:kplanning\kendra\v96-08.doc
ity of
ver
ITEM 5.1.
MEMORANDUM
Planning Commission
Kendra Lindahl, Zoning Ass~stan '~
July 23, 1996
TO:
FROM:
DATE:
SUBJECT: Variance Request by Jerry Kunza,
Public Hearing Case No. V 96-08
Request
The apphcant is requesting a variance to encroach on both the front and the
side yard setback requirements.
Location
10313 Twin Lakes Road NW, Elk River, MN 55330
PID #75-125-2300
Zoning/Land Use
R-la (single family residential)/LR (Low Density Residential)
Attachments
· Location Map
· Site Plan
· Letter from Applicant
Background
The apphcant is requesting a 25 foot variance from the required 35 foot front
yard setback and a 10 foot variance from the required 20 foot side yard
setback. The proposed pole building will be 10 feet from both the front and
side lot lines. The front property hne is located off of a private driveway
which serves only one residence and a farm field north of the applicant.
The applicant is limited as to where the storage building may be placed
because the land drops off to the west of the existing yard barn, and would
require a significant amount of full in order to create a suitable building site.
13065 Orono Parkway · P.O. Box 490 · Elk River, MN 55330 · (612) 441-7420 · Fax: (612) 441-7425
Memo to the Planning Commission Page 2
July 23, 1996
The drain field is located in the only flat part of the property. Requiring the
pole building to meet the required setbacks will result in the loss of one or
two mature trees, as well as a significant amount of fill. In the past, the
Planning Commission and City Council have used tree preservation as a
finding in granting a variance.
The apphcant is proposing to build a 1,620 square foot storage building on
the property. The apphcant currently has a 240 square foot yard barn, and a
660 square foot attached garage on the property. With the addition of this
pole barn, the applicant will have 2,520 square feet of accessory structure
area. Properties in this zoning district are allowed a maximum accessory
structure area based on the parcel size:
· 1 acre to 2.5 acres are allowed 2,500 square feet of accessory structure
area.
· · >2.5 acres to 5.0 acres are allowed 3,000 square feet of accessory structure
area.
This parcel is 2.5 acres and is allowed 2,500 square feet of accessory structure
area. The applicant has proposed 2,520 square feet of accessory structure
area. This is 20 square feet more than is allowed by ordinance. The
applicant will need to reduce the size of the proposed pole barn by at least 20
square feet.
The yard barn is located in the proposed location of the new storage shed, and
will be moved to the rear of the property near the garden.
Variance
This property is subject to the normal standards found in section 900.40 of
the Elk River Ordinance which states that a variance may only be granted if
it meets the five conditions outlined.
Recommendation
Staff recommends approval of the variance request to allow a 10 foot front
yard setback and a 10 foot side yard setback, based on the following findings
and conditions:
Findings
1)
The literal enforcement of the ordinance would cause undue hardship
because the apphcant would not be able to meet setbacks for the pole
building without adding a significant amount of fill or cutting down
mature oak trees.
s:\planning\kendra\v96-O8.doc
Memo to the Planning Commission Page 3
July 23, 1996
2) That the hardship caused by the topography of the site, which makes it
difficult to contract a building at the setback line, due to the drop-off,
which would require extensive fill and the loss of several mature trees.
3) That the special conditions and circumstances are not a consequence of
the petitioner's own action or inaction, but rather a result of the
topography of the site.
4) That the variance will not be injurious to or adversely affect the
health, safety or welfare of the residents of the City or the
neighborhood wherein the property is situated and will be in keeping
with the spirit and intent of the Ordinance.
Conditions
1. That the proposed pole barn does not exceed 1,600 square feet, in order to
comply with the maximum accessory structure area allowed in this zoning
district.
2. The proposed pole barn will be moved as far south as possible without
requiring cutting down the mature trees located on the property.
3. The existing yard barn and dog kennel will be moved to the rear of the
property and both will be required to meet all setbacks.
s:Xplanning\kendra\v96-08.doc
PUD
J k~ LOCATION
J13065 ElkRiver, ~ 5~'33'0 V 96-08
SITE PLAN
-2'
35
-7'
PROPn~E::9 I1UILI)ING
45~ ~
G2,-3~
1~ Il'
~~ I)RAIN FIELg
TREES
.1]RIVE~/AY ~
PROPERTY LINE
15
38'
HOUSE
70"
-1'
-5'
30'-6.5'