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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1918 Autumn Variance REQUEST FOR PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION Families, Fields and Fair __________________________ The City That Soars! Description A variance is requested to allow a fence 72 inches tall along a portion of the property line in the front yard of 1918 Autumn Street. Section 113-242 limits fences to a height of 36 inches in front yards. Background 1918 Autumn Street, Falcon Heights, PIN 162923310072, is located on the southeast curve of the north loop of the Falcon Woods neighborhood, south of Roselawn Avenue between Fairview and Cleveland Avenues. The legal description is Lot 3 Block 3 Falcon Woods. The parcel is zoned R-1 Single Family Residential and has been maintained in this use since the neighborhood was developed in the 1950s. The parcel has an area of approximately 13,503 square feet. 1918 Autumn Street is one of a relatively small number of Falcon Heights residential properties that are not rectangular and oriented to the compass directions. The property is wedge-shaped, with a street frontage of approximately 60 feet and an average back yard width of over 100 feet. The north side lot line is approximately 104 feet; the south lot line is approximately 172 feet. The house is oriented at an angle such that the north front corner of the house is not lined up with the front of the house next door but approximately 7 feet back from the front line of the adjacent home to the north. The owners of 1918 Autumn Street are requesting a variance to extend their back yard privacy fence, which is 72 inches tall, forward of the front line of their house to match the fence in the adjacent yard. Because the house to the north does not line up, the neighbor’s fence extends some 7 to 8 feet forward of the applicant’s house. The applicants cannot extend their fence at a height of 72 inches because it is in their front yard, where fence height is restricted to 36 inches. Therefore they have applied for a height variance on a front yard fence. Notice of a public hearing on this matter was published in the Roseville Review on July 9. On July 5, notice was mailed to the owners of all properties within 350 feet as required by statute. One written statement was received prior to July 19; it is attached. No other public comment was received by staff as of July 19. Meeting Date July 23, 2013 Agenda Items 1 Title Fence Height Variance at 1918 Autumn Street Submitted By Deborah Jones, Zoning and Planning Director Analysis In reference to Section 113-62 Variance, staff finds the following: a. That the variance would be in harmony with the general purposes and intent of Chapter 113. Staff finds that the variance requested is in harmony with the purpose and intent of the zoning chapter as stated in Section 113-1. b. That the variance would be consistent with the comprehensive plan. Staff finds that the variance requested is consistent with the comprehensive plan and that it will not impair or diminish property values or improvements in the area. c. That there are practical difficulties in complying with this chapter. Staff finds that there are practical difficulties in complying with the letter of Section 113-242 Fences. The parcel shape and orientation of the home mean that “front yard” for this residence does not line up with “front yard” for the house to the north so the 72 inch fence on the neighboring property borders a portion of the applicant’s front yard. It extends past the end of the fence they can legally build if they wish to have their own fence. d. That the granting of the variance will not impair an adequate supply of light and air to adjacent property, or substantially increase the congestion of the public streets, or increase the danger of fire, or endanger the public safety. Staff finds that the variances will not impair an adequate supply of light and air to adjacent properties, will have no effect on traffic on the public street and will not increase the danger of fire or endanger the public safety. e. That the requested variance is the minimum action required to eliminate the practical difficulties. Staff finds that the minimum action required to eliminate the practical difficulties is an extension of the fence to a line even with the house to the north. Staff finds that extending the fence a “standard” module distance is above the minimum action required. Staff recommends that any variance be limited to be in line with the adjacent fence e. Staff finds that the provisions regarding earth-sheltered construction and temporary use stated in Section113-62(e)(6) do not apply to this variance. Budget Impact None Attachment(s)  Application for the fence height variance at 1918 Autumn Street  Site map and 2011 aerial photo of 1918 Autumn Street  Hearing notice published in the Roseville Review and mailed to owners of properties within 350 feet.  Letter received from neighbor at 1906 Prior Avenue, Falcon Heights. Actions Requested  Hold a public hearing on the fence height variance requested for 1918 Autumn Street  Make a recommendation to the City Council 1918 Autumn Street, Falcon Heights Ramsey County Online Maps & Data - Parcel, Structures, Pavement Edge DISCLAIMER: This map is neither a legally recorded map nor a survey and is not intended to be used as one. This map is a compilation of records, information and data located in various city, county, state and federal offices and other sources regarding the area shown, and is to be used for reference purposes only. SOURCES: Ramsey County (May 31, 2011), The Lawrence Group;May 31, 2011 for County parcel and property records data; May 2011 for commercial and residential data; April 2009 for color aerial imagery; All other This map is a user generated static output from an Internet mapping site and is for reference only. Data layers that appear on this map may or may not be accurate, current, or otherwise reliable. © Ramsey County Enterprise GIS Division 98.7 THIS MAP IS NOT TO BE USED FOR NAVIGATION NAD_1983_HARN_Adj_MN_Ramsey_Feet Feet98.7049.33 Notes 2011 Aerial Photo with property lines (2013 corrections not shown) Legend1918 Autumn Street Parcel Points Parcel Boundaries County Borders