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North Star Estates began operating as a manufactured park <br />community in 1971. From the records that North Star <br />obtained and its examination of the City and State records, <br />it appears that all necessary permits and governmental <br />approvals were obtained to construct and to operate the <br />manufactured home community. Since then, North Star <br />Estates has maintained its license to operate the <br />community. The off - street parking enjoyed by the <br />residents of North Star has remained the same since the <br />park began operation in 1971. <br />Since acquiring North Star Estates, North Star has worked <br />with the City of Little Canada to improve the community. <br />In recognition of its efforts, North Star Estates won the <br />1996 Community Pride Award from the City of Little <br />Canada in the commercial category. This award is given <br />to the most improved or best maintained commercial <br />property in the City of Little Canada. <br />In early 1997, North Star learned from a City official that <br />an issue arose whether North Star was in compliance with <br />Minn. Stat. § 327.20, subd. 1, para. 3, because the <br />vehicles of some residents, when parked on off - street <br />parking, were closer than 10 feet from adjacent homes. <br />North Star therefore submits this request for a permanent <br />variance from the application of that statute. <br />Discussion. Application of the 10 foot requirement <br />regarding off - street parking to North Star Estates will cause <br />extreme hardship unique to North Star Estates and its <br />residents. When North Star Estates opened for operation <br />in 1971, the off - street parking in its current form began. <br />Residents of the park chose North Star Estates as their <br />home in part because of the off - street parking. North Star <br />acquired North Star Estates in part because of the off - street <br />parking. Enforcement of the ordinance against North Star <br />Estates now would deprive current residents of parking <br />privileges that they have enjoyed for 26 years, and would <br />deprive North Star of a right that it believed in good faith <br />that it acquired in 1996. <br />Second, granting the variance will give to North Star and <br />the residents of North Star Estates a right enjoyed by many <br />other persons in Ramsey County and the State of <br />Minnesota. There are numerous examples of other <br />Page 65 <br />