11-09-2005 Council Agenda - Laserfiche WebLink

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NORTHWEST ASSOCIATED CONSULTANTS, INC. 4500 Olson Memorial Highway, Suite 202, Golden Valley, MN 55422 Telephone: 763.231 .2555 Facsimile: 763.231.2561 planners@ nacplanning.com MEMORANDUM TO: Little Canada Planning Commission FROM: Stephen Grittman DATE: October 28, 2005 RE: Little Canada — Whitman Fence Conditional Use Permit FILE NO: 758.09 - 05.32 Background and Analysis The applicant is seeking a Conditional Use Permit for a Special Purpose Fence at his property at 353 Rose Lane. The Zoning Ordinance permits fences to be up to 6 1/2 feet tall, with additional height or special materials allowed by CUP. The applicant is seeking a fence height of 8 feet to provide additional visual screening for a rear yard spa. The reason for the Special Meeting is due to planning staffs direction to the applicant that the 8 foot fence would be allowable as long as it meets the building setback. Further examination of the ordinance revealed that a CUP would be required. The Special Purpose Fence provision is designed to permit the City to review alternative fence designs (including height) on a case by case basis. In this request, the fence would meet the regular building setback line, rather than be located upon the property line as many fences are. In addition, the screening purpose appears to be a reasonable request, given the location and design of the neighboring property. The applicant would be using the taller wood fence only along the line where screening is requested, and other fencing would be of a wrought iron design where screening is not necessary. As a result, the additional fence height is offset by the additional setback proposed by the property owner. At the 7 1/2 foot setback line, the applicant could construct a house wall which would have an equal, if not greater, impact on the neighboring property. The fence as proposed would not create any severe impact on the spaciousness of the lot or unnecessarily encroach on the neighborhood's openness. To the extent that the additional fence height would create concern about the creation of a wall along the neighbor's property, this impact could be mitigated with the addition of landscaping in the side yard. The applicant may be considering landscaping in this area that is not included on the fence plan.