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• Planning Commission <br />Meeting: 6/17/96 <br />Item: 3 <br />ITEM: Request for variance of eleven feet from the required <br />front yard setback for the construction of a wheelchair <br />ramp at 1806 Pascal Street, Chapter 9-2.05 subd. 2 (a) <br />SUBMITTED BY: James and Lorraine Utne, Property Owners <br />Kevin Dooley, KD Construction, Applicant for Property Owners <br />REVIEWED BY: Carla Asleson, Administrative Assistant/Planner <br />EXPLANATION/DESCRIPTION: <br />A. REQUEST FOR VARIANCE <br />Mr. and Mrs. Utne, through their contractor, Mr. Dooley, are requesting a variance to <br />construct a wheelchair ramp on their property. Chapter 9-2.05 subd, 2 (a) reads, in <br />part, that "No...exposed ramps (wheelchair)... shall be less than five feet from a side <br />or rear lot line, and if in a front yard, a variance shall be required." The variance is <br />• being requested because the ramp is proposed for the front yard (the side and rear <br />setbacks are met.) The ramp is proposed to be built at a 19' setback from the <br />property Ime instead of the 30' front yard setback required. <br />Mrs. Utne is recovering from paralysis and needs the ramp to get outside. With the <br />ramp, her husband will be able to help her get out without additional assistance. See <br />applicant's statement, attachment 1. <br />B. EMERGENCY VARIANCE GRANTED <br />The City Planner verbally granted a temporary variance for Mr. Dooley to begin <br />construction due to the emergency hardship. It was decided that the intent of the <br />Code, 9-1.01 (a) "to protect and promote the health, safety, and comfort of residents" <br />covered this situation. Without the ramp, Mrs. Utne would not be able to leave the <br />house in the event of a fire, even with her husband's assistance. <br />C. COMMENTS FROM NEIGHBORS <br />Letters regarding the proposed variance were delivered to the two abutting property <br />owners. Falcon Heights United Church of Christ owns the property to the east of the <br />Utne home; staff at the church have indicated that they don't anticipate having any <br />objections to the variance. The owners of the property to the north have not <br />contacted staff since the notification letters were delivered. <br />• <br />