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Mayor Bill Blesener 415 Brooks Avenue East Little Canada, MN 55117 Council Member John Keis 3094 Payne Avenue Little Canada, MN 55117 Council Member Michael McGraw 179 Little Canada Road NE, #338 Little Canada, MN 55117 October 21. 2007 Council Member Barbara Allan 2411 McMenemy Street Little Canada, MN 55117 Council Member Rick Montour 2986 DeSoto Street Little Canada, MN 55117 Ms. Kathy Glanzer Little Canada City Clerk 515 Little Canada Road East Little Canada, MN 55117 RE: Lauren & Company Application for Variance from the 500 foot cul -de -sac standard Dear Members of the Council: The Planning Commission met on October 11, 2007 regarding the above requested variance. You will recall that the City has taken the position that the 1,050 foot cul -de -sac does not require a variance from the 500 foot cul -de -sac standard. The Applicant's written variance request contained no detailed written explanation for the need for a variance from the 500 foot cul -de -sac standard, as required by Little Canada's Subdivision Variance Ordinance 1010.020 (a). The Applicant stated to the Planning Commission that he was seeking the variance only to avoid litigation, which does not constitute the required showing of hardship. Little Canada's City Planner demonstrated the City's staff was not a neutral gatekeeper in this matter, but rather was an advocate. The City Planner stated that he, and not the Applicant, came up with reasons for the Applicant's requested variance from the 500 foot cul -de -sac standard. Further, when the Chair of the Planning Commission inquired of the City Planner whether the Planning Commission should take some time to read the materials submitted by the community prior to the public hearing, the City Planner stated "no." The City Planner then incorrectly instructed the Planning Commission on the findings it must make to recommend a variance, at odds with Little Canada's Subdivision Variance Ordinance. After the public provided evidence that none of the required specific elements of the Little Canada Subdivision Variance Ordinance were met, the Chair of the Planning Commission not surprisingly stated that this had nothing to do with whether to grant a variance. The Applicant also did not dispute nor rebut the submissions and evidence submitted by the community. Comments were made by the Planning Commission to the effect that since they passed this at the plat stage, they would pass it again, notwithstanding that the requirements of the subdivision variance ordinance were not met by the Applicant. After all, the City has taken the position that - 1 8 -