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Attachment 6-3 Michael D. Zalk and Sissel H. I~stad 1386 Idaho Avenue West Falcon Heights, Minnesota 55113 September 12, 1995 City of Falcon Heights Planning Commission City of Falcon Heights 2077 West Larpenteur Ave. Falcon Heights, MN 55113-5594 Re: Request for Variance Permitting Dual Driveway Access; Proposed Garage at 1386 Idaho Avenue West Dear Commissioners: This letter is submitted in support of our application for a variance necessary to allow the construction of a double tandem garage with dual driveway access at 1386 Idaho Avenue West. We are informed that a tandem garage proposal with only one driveway access, either to the street or the alley, would not require a variece. The dual driveway access request arises out of the proposal for a double tandem garage design, which enables a double garage on our property without removing or severely cutting back a mature birch tree. The tree is centered appraaimately 29 feet from the eastern boundary of the • property, with branches at a height of 7 feet as near as 23.5 feet to the eastern boundary. We believe that this design is the only practical solution to preserving the tree in its present condition while building a double garage. The tandem garage design, however, is extremely unpractical if access is not permitted from the existing driveway and the nearby alley. We believe that the code provision denying more than one access in this unique case imposes a particular hardship, and as noted below, a less safe situation for ingress and egress. This arrangement has worked well for one other house in our neighborhood, at 1375 Idaho, where access to the driveway for a double tandem garage from both street and alley was apparently allowed during original construction. Permitting two access points to the driveway will permit safer exits from the garage itself, by permitting vehicles to exit forward to the alley, rather than by backing 100 feet to the street as is currently required. We understand that the purpose of the driveway access rule was principally to limit the amount of paving, and we believe that our proposal does not violate this intent. The driveway extension to the alley as proposed will travel only 6 feet, contributing only a small additional amount of paving to the property. Thank you for your consideration of this application. Very truly ypurs ~~ i Michael D. Zalk