01-14-1981 Council Agenda - Laserfiche WebLink

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Little Canada Planning Commission, Mayor and City Council 5 January 1981 Page Two 2. Setbacks. Exhibit B shows the proposed building layout on the applicant's survey. Since the property in question is a corner lot, setbacks of 30 feet are required (and have been provided) from both Lake Street and Ruth Street. A problem arises, however, in determining side and rear setbacks. By definition the narrowest frontage on a street is considered the front yard on a corner lot. Thus, in this case the south side of the property is the rear yard. As shown on Exhibit B the setback to the building is 25.65 feet, while 30.39 has been provided on the west side. If 30 feet is maintained on the south side (the rear by definition), it allows an expansion area to the west (within 10 feet of the western lot line). In discussing this with the applicant, he indicated that the drawing was a general building layout and there would be no problem with maintaining a 30 foot setback on the south side of the building. 3. Resubdivision. If the request is approved it is recommended that the applicant be required to legally combine the lots into one parcel . If this is not required, the possibility exists of some future owner selling off Lot 3, leaving the remaining structure and land as substandard. 4. Lake Street. Lake Street is currently undeveloped, and some question exists as to the necessity of ever developing it as a city street. However, a number of narrow (25 feet) lots front on Lake Street. While some of these are owned in groups, others appear to be individually owned (e.g., Lots 4 and 5, Block 12 - see Exhibit A attached). If Lake Street were vacated, the potential exists for a few or more lots to be left without access. Simultaneously the lots are for the most part unbuildable. While resolution of this problem is not considered to be the responsibility of the applicant, it is recommended that the City give the area further study to see if a solution can be found which will eliminate the problem of unbuildable lots. RECOMMENDATION Based upon the preceding analysis, the lot size variance appears to be justified, especially since three grossly substandard lots are being combined to create a more standard lot. However, it is considered very important that the City pursue the resolution of the un- buildable lots in the surrounding area as well as exploring the possibility of vacating Lake Street between Stark and Ruth Streets. Much of the background for such study could potentially be handled during our monthly staff hours. cc: Joe Chlebeck Clayton Parks Don Carley Larry Squires Richard Demont