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STAFF REPORT To: Mayor Fischer and Members of the Little Canada City Council From: Ben Harrington, AICP, Community Development Director Date: February 25, 2026 Request: PC 1450 – 2912 Vanderbie - Conditional Use Permit for Detached Accessory Building Actions To Be Considered •Approval with conditions/denial of a Conditional Use Permit for a detached accessory building at 2912 Vanderbie Street, Little Canada, Minnesota. Background The applicant, Nick Schwalbach, has submitted an application for a Conditional Use Permit to construct a detached accessory building in the rear yard of the property located at 2912 Vanderbie Street. The subject property is zoned R-1 Low Density Residential and is developed with a single- family home. The proposed accessory structure would have a footprint of approximately 1,512 square feet and a height of approximately 20 feet 4 inches. The structure is intended for year-round indoor recreational use by the household. The proposal includes a finished and painted steel post-frame building constructed on a continuous foundation. Under the City’s zoning regulations, detached accessory buildings that exceed maximum area or height limitations or that utilize post-frame construction or non-traditional exterior materials require approval of a Conditional Use Permit. The applicant’s proposal exceeds the maximum by-right size allowance by a small margin, exceeds the maximum by-right height allowance, and proposes post-frame construction. As a result, the request is subject to discretionary review by the Planning Commission and City Council. The applicant expressed hesitation to complete full survey work and finalize construction plans prior to knowing whether the proposed structure would be approved through the Conditional Use Permit process. Staff worked with the applicant to assemble a proposal that is sufficiently detailed for formal consideration by the Planning Commission and City Council. Staff have also advised the applicant that the Commission and Council retain full discretion to deny the request if the proposal is found not to meet applicable zoning standards or Conditional Use Permit criteria, including where the record does not clearly demonstrate compatibility or provide sufficient detail to support approval. Proposal The applicant is requesting approval of a Conditional Use Permit to construct a detached accessory building in the rear yard of the property located at 2912 Vanderbie Street. Specifically, the request seeks approval for: