03-13-2002 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTRS CITY COUNCIL MARCH 13, 2002 Scalze pointed out that improved road access is required to develop a property, and there is the possibility of the future improvement of Rose Lane to provide that access for an undeveloped lot on the street. Montour asked the value of the home that Roberto was planning to construct. Roberto estimated the home value to be approximately $200,000. He noted that cost estimates for soils work and possibly pilings to place the home within the required setbacks are approaching 50% of that amount. Roberto indicated that the only way to feasibly develop a house on this lot is to place the house on the drier soils via a variance. Fahey stated that it was not clear to him what the additional cost would be for constructing a house within the required setbacks. The City Engineer noted that while ^o soil boring was done in the area where setbacks would be met, this area falls between boring 1 and boring Z. There is a significant difference in soils at these two borings. The Engineer pointed out that there would be $70,000 to $110,000 in additional foundation costs to construct a house at boring 2 from what it would cost to construct a house at boring l utilizing excavation and backfill as well as aslab-on-grade. There would be an additional $20,000 to $ ~Q000 if pilings are used. Roberto pointed out that soil conditions worsen on this property as they move ti om west to east. The City Engineer agreed. The Engineer also indicated that the cost estimates submitted by Mr. Roberto should be fairly accurate. Fahey asked if there was anyone from the general public wishing to comment on this matter. Carol Stenger, Savage Lane, agreed that soil conditions in this area worsen as they move from west to east and noted that there is designated wetland on her property. Stenger also expressed concern with another driveway being placed on Savage Lane pointing out that there is a 90 degree tw~n along the road. Stenger felt another driveway would be a safety hazard. Stenger also reported that if any portion of Rose Laue is vacated, she did not want additional property that would be unusable to her- Fahey asked the City Attorney's comments regarding the hardship issue. The City Attorney noted that this issue has to do with reasonable use of a property. If there is no reasonable use of the property without the variance, then there are grounds for granting a variance. whey disagreed that a reasonable use would be requiring someone to place a house in an area of a lot that would require an additional $90,000 of soils and foundation work. Fahey pointed out that this is not a new neighborhood, and Mr. Roberto is proposing to eousu uct a house that fits the character of the 3