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• D. COMMENTS FROM NEIGHBORS Letters regarding the proposed deck were sent to abutting property owners regarding this request. As of this writing, no comments have been received. Mr. West reports that he has spoken with Ms. Susan Salmon of 1790 Pascal Street, the neighbor to the south of the proposed shed. Ms. Salmon requested that the church install a motion detector light with the shed so that it will be illuminated if anyone tries to access it at night. The church has agreed to Ms. Salmon's request. E. APPLICANT'S OTHER OPTIONS FOR PLACEMENT OF THE SHED When considering a variance request, the planning commission should determine if reasonable alternatives to the variance exist. In this case, the proposed location is the only reasonable location for the shed. Because of the church's design and its three-sided lot, any other location would have the shed closer to the street than the principal building, which is not aesthetically desirable. F. ANALYSIS The church property is unusual in that it has frontage on three streets, giving the church limited building area. The size of the proposed shed (140 square feet) is in line with other utility sheds built in residential areas, which have ranged between 80 and 224 square feet for residential sheds built in 1995 and 1996. The church's proposed shed meets all requirements of the zoning code except for the side yard setback provision. • G. STAFF RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends approval of the requested variance due to the unique configuration of the property, the reasonable shed dimensions, and the fact that no reasonable alternative building location exists on the property. The unique configuration on the property is not due to circumstances created by the property owner, and the three foot variance is the minimum needed to alleviate this hardship. Finally, granting the variance will not alter the essential character of the neighborhood. Staff also recommends that removal of the existing shed prior to construction of the new one be a condition of the variance. The church has indicated that this is their intention. H. ATTACHMENTS 1. Site plan of shed 2. Site plan of property 3. Sketch of proposed shed design 4. Standards for granting a variance 5. Proposed resolution I. ACTION REQUESTED Approve the requested variance of three feet from chapter 9-2.04 subd. 1 (c) of the zoning code by adopting a resolution (attachment 5) that this property meets the standards for granting a variance (attachment 4), specifically 9-15.03 subd. 4 (c), that • the amendment is necessary for the preservation and enjoyment of substantial property rights and 9-15.03 subd. 4 (g), that the property is unique and that a hardship would result if the strict letter of the chapter were carried out.