Laserfiche WebLink
<br />CITY OF LITTLE CANADA <br />COUNTY OF RAMSEY <br />STATE OF MINNESOTA <br /> <br />RESOLUTION NO. PC2026-01-01 <br /> <br />RESOLUTION APPROVING A FRONT SETBACK VARIANCE FOR A <br />PRINCIPAL STRUCTURE AT 0 MARKET PLACE DRIVE <br /> <br />WHEREAS, the City of Little Canada (“Owner”) owns the real property located 0 Market Place <br />Drive located in the City of Little Canada, Ramsey County, Minnesota with PID Number 052922140044 <br />(“Property”); and <br /> <br />WHEREAS, Metro Transit, with Kimley-Horn acting on its behalf, submitted Planning <br />Case 1448, an application for a variance to allow the front setback of a principal structure to be 2 <br />feet from the property line, where a minimum setback of 10 feet is required under the City’s zoning <br />ordinance; and <br /> <br />WHEREAS, the variance request is associated with the construction of a small <br />governmental building intended to serve as an operator restroom and break facility at the northern <br />terminus of the METRO G Line bus rapid transit corridor; and <br /> <br />WHEREAS, the Planning Commission reviewed the request at its January 8, 2026, <br />meeting and recommended approval of the variance; and <br /> <br />WHEREAS, the City Council held a duly noticed public hearing on January 14, 2026, in <br />accordance with Minnesota Statutes and the City’s zoning ordinance; and <br /> <br /> WHEREAS, City staff recommended approval of the variance based on the findings <br />contained in the staff report; and <br /> <br />WHEREAS, the City Council finds that the request is in harmony with the purposes and <br />intent of the zoning ordinance, as the reduced setback allows the facility to be integrated with <br />planned transit infrastructure while avoiding unnecessary disturbance to the remainder of the site; <br />and <br /> <br />WHEREAS, the City Council finds that the variance is consistent with the Comprehensive <br />Plan, including land use and transportation policies supporting mixed-use development, expanded <br />transit service, and the conservation of natural resources and existing public infrastructure; and <br /> <br />WHEREAS, the City Council finds that practical difficulties exist due to circumstances <br />unique to the property, including the presence of a City-constructed stormwater pond with steep <br />slopes that substantially limits the buildable area, conditions that were not created by the applicant; <br />and <br /> <br />WHEREAS, the City Council finds that the applicant proposes to use the property in a <br />reasonable manner permitted in the zoning district, as a governmental building within the C-2 <br />Corridor Mixed District; and