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Agenda Item 6 • City of Falcon Heights Planning Commission September 25, 1995 ITEM: Request for a variance to Chapter 9 § 13.04 Subd. 6(a) of the zoning code to permit two access drives to the property at 1386 Idaho Avenue SUBMITTED BY: Mr. Michael Zalk, property owner Ms. Sissel Ilstad, property owner REVIEWED BY: Susan Hoyt, City Administrator Carla Aselson, Planner STAFF REPORT: Request. Mr. Zalk is requesting a variance to Chapter 9 § 13.04 Subd. 6(a) of the zoning code to permit two access drives to the double, tandem garage that he proposes to build on his property to replace the existing single car garage. No other variances are required for the construction of the proposed garage, which will be three feet from the sidelot line, because the existing garage is currently located at the three • foot setback. Proposal. Mr. Zalk wants to replace an existing garage with a tandem, double garage (cars end to end -rather than side by side). He wishes to provide access to the garage from the existing front driveway as well as to create access from the rear alley with a six foot drive. This would create the most efficient ingress and egress of the two cars to the proposed garage because both would have immediate driveway access. Proposal's conformity to the existing code As Mr. Zalk points out in his letter, a tandem garage will maintain the open space and an existing tree in his rear yard whereas a standard double garage would not. The proposal for the tandem garage already conforms to the zoning code and can be constructed without a variance. However, Mr. Zalk wishes to have independent access for two cars to the garage. This requires two entrances to the garage and, therefore, he is requesting the variance to the zoning code. In sum, the variance is being requested to maximize the access to the proposed garage for two vehicles. Question before the commission The commission must ask if there is a unique characteristic with this property that creates a hardship and justifies granting a • variance so the property owner can enjoy his full property rights.