03-26-2003 Council Agenda - Laserfiche WebLink

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B.WE;S :t A,S;QQC4AT'l; C'QNI 4RIAM;T'So, 5775 Wayzata Boulevard, Suite 555, St. Louis Park, MN 55416 Telephone: 952.595.9636 Facsimile: 952.595.9837 planners @nacplanning.com MEMORANDUM TO: Little Canada Planning Commission FROM: Stephen Grittman DATE: March 10, 2003 RE: Little Canada — Gervais Beach Trail Setback Variance FILE NO: 758.09 - 03.06 Background and Analysis Ramsey County Parks and Recreation is preparing plans for a renovation of the Gervais Lake Beach area. A portion of these improvements will add a handicapped accessible pathway to the fishing pier at the north end of the park. Due to steep grade in the area, the pathway is planned to encroach to within 10 feet of the shoreline. The Shoreland Ordinance requires that the first 25 feet of upland from the ordinary high water mark is to be preserved without disturbance. As such, the Parks Department is seeking a variance to construct the pathway within the required setback area. Variances are to be evaluated against a set of conditions identified in the Zoning Ordinance. These conditions require a finding that a unique, physical hardship exists in putting the property to reasonable use if the specific standards of the ordinance are applied. In this case, the applicants note that moving the pathway out of the 25 foot "clear zone" would require extensive grading of a hillside that is an important part of the park's character. The intent of the Shoreland Ordinance is to protect the lake from improvements that would create negative impacts to water quality or environment. While the paved pathway will impact the water somewhat, the extensive grading necessary to move it farther from the lake would have a greater impact. Eliminating the pathway altogether would keep the fishing pier from being accessible to handicapped individuals, an unreasonable result.