06-14-07 Planning Comm. Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES PLANNING COMMISSION JUNE 14, 2007 The City Planner indicated that the Witmer house sits back 37 feet from the property line, therefore, a 7 foot addition would be possible without a variance. Witmer reported that he would like to put a 10 foot addition on the kitchen resulting in a 3 foot variance. Witmer indicated that there is not much cost savings to him going with an additional ?feet versus 10 feet. A 7 foot addition would not allow enough room for a center island they would like in the kitchen. Jody Wittner pointed out that given the layout of existing houses along Demont as well as trees, the 3 foot Variance would not cause their house to appear out-of--line with the adjacent homes. Witmer indicated that there is a planter attached to the front of their house that extends 10 feet forward. The City Planner indicated that planters, stoops, porches are allowed to encroach into the front yard setback. Jody Wittner pointed out that they have afour-bedroom home and would like a decent sized kitchen to go along with the rest of the house. Knudsen pointed out that the challenge is to determine anon-financial hardship that warrants the granting of a Variance. Jody Witmer pointed out the existing, older residential neighborhoods in Little Canada, and felt that in order to allow property owners to make property improvements, variances will need to be granted. Wittner pointed out that the right-of-way for Demont Street is 66 feet in width, which is wider than the City's standard. Hall asked the if the purpose of setbacks was for public safety. The City Planner indicated that part of the purpose of setbacks is to create spaciousness and green space. The Planner indicated that typical streets in Little Canada have 50 to 60 foot right-of--ways. The paved surface generally lies centered within the right- of-way with boulevard areas on either side. Setbacks are measured from the property line (right-of--way line) and not from the edge of the street. Boulevard areas are used for utility locations as well as snow storage. Hall asked what a typical boulevard width might be. The Planner reported that the width of City streets range from 28 feet to 32 feet of paved surface, with the remaining area boulevard areas ranging from 22 to 32 feet (11 to 16 feet on either side of the paved surface). The Planner agreed that the 66 foot right-of--way for Demont Street is large, and suggested that one option would be for the Wittner's to contact their neighbors to join into a petition to vacate 3 feet ofright-of--way on their side of Demont Street. This would provide the Wittner's with an additional 3 feet of property and allow for a 10 foot addition without need for a Variance. -9-