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accommodate a new two story 22' wide garage. <br />• Mr. Carlson showed an aerial photo of the Wiger lot. The lot is below the minimum <br />size requirement for the R-1 district. He said the width is adequate but the depth is <br />less than typical or desirable and that such anon-conforming lot may not be more <br />intensively developed. The photo showed there are many shallow lots on the block <br />between Asbury and North Snelling Drive similar to the Wiger lot. He said the <br />ordinance standards in §9-2.02 Subd.8(b) allow alterations, additions, or <br />enlargement of non-conforming uses as long as all other standards (including <br />setbacks) are adhered to. Mr. Carlson stated that since both the house and garage <br />need setback variances, the proposed project does not meet this standard. <br />Mr. Carlson explained that there is room to expand to the south of the house <br />without needing a substantial variance. He felt that because the rear yards on this <br />block are already shallow and the houses close together, that to allow an <br />encroachment other than a garage would set a negative precedent. Also, Mr. <br />Wiger would need to demonstrate that he cannot meet the ordinance standard <br />without causing a hardship. It has not been shown that expanding the house to <br />the south where a limited variance would be needed would create a hardship, so <br />Mr. Carlson felt a rear yard variance is not justified. However, the side yard <br />variance request for the garage is necessary to avoid a hardship because an <br />adequate size garage would be considered a necessity. <br />Mr. Wiger, property owner, brought plans for the commission to review showing <br />both the original and the expansion plans. He said that expanding to the south is <br />not an option because the house is a colonial style home and cannot be expanded <br />without making it look "added on". Also, he explained, their side yard is used for <br />recreation and they do not want to lose any of it. He said that if they expanded to <br />the south, a good share of the house would have to be gutted, so to keep it within <br />a reasonable price range and not lose side yard space, expanding to the west made <br />more sense. Mr. Wiger explained the second story on the garage will be used for <br />storage of airplane parts that are currently in a rental hanger. <br />Neighboring property owner, Glen Olson of 1780 Snelling Drive, said that he would <br />like to have the variance denied because the Olsons have a small back yard that is <br />landscaped so he and his wife can enjoy some seclusion, especially from Snelling <br />Avenue. He said if the variance were to be granted they would lose this seclusion. <br />Mrs. Helms of 1789 Asbury was also present and expressed concern about the <br />size and appearance of the proposed addition. <br />Commissioner Salzberg asked Mr. Wiger if he would be agreeable to having the <br />variance discussion continued to the March meeting thus giving him some time to <br />investigate the feasibility of expanding to the south. Mr. Wiger said yes, if was <br />necessary. <br />C, <br />