04/11/2001 P&Z Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Planning & Zoning Board April 11, 2001 Page 2 V. ACTION ITEMS A. Steve Dahlstrom, 6641 East Shadow Lake Drive, Variance. Staff presented the application by explaining applicant had submitted an application for a variance from the side yard setback requirement in an R -1 zoning district. Applicant wanted to construct a large addition to his existing house. The setback requirement for a garage differed from the setback for the house. Mr. Dahlstrom's addition included garage space on the main level with additional bedrooms over the garage. This living space must meet the larger setback, which was the reason a variance was needed. Staff presented its analysis of the request by explaining, the property was in an R -1 Single Family zoning district. The side yard setbacks were 10 feet for the principal building, 5 feet for an accessory building. A garage, even an attached garage, was considered an accessory building. Therefore, a garage wall must be 5 feet from the side property line. The house itself must be 10 feet. Adding garage space would need to meet the 5' setback. Living space must meet the 10' setback. Since the proposed new living space would be 5' from the property line, a variance was needed. Staff noted that the letter from Mr. Dahlstrom was written before the survey was prepared, so the distances in his letter were estimated. As shown on the submitted survey, the front corner of the existing garage wall was 4.19 feet from the side lot line. (It is unknown why this was not built at the 5 ft. setback.) The rear corner of the existing garage was approximately 7 'A' from the side lot line. (This was a scaled measurement of the submitted survey, it was not shown on the survey.) Therefore, at its closest point, the new addition would be about 7 %2' from the property line. This was 2 %2' less than the required 10' setback, or about 25% less. The proposed addition would be 23' 8" high at the peak of the roof. The house next door at 6634 East Shadow Lake Drive was 16.01 feet from the property line. A submitted letter indicates that the neighbors, the Sandstroms, had no objection to the project. The existing home had approximately 1000 sf of living space, with some additional space in the lower level. This was just over the minimum 980 sf required in the zoning ordinance for a split level. The house had two bedrooms, ,5 Mr. Dahlstrom's_ plans included adding 20 feet onto the entire rear of the house as well as the new garage space with bedrooms above. As stated in the zoning ordinance, in considering all requests for variance and in taking subsequent action, the City shall make a finding of fact: 1. That the property in question could not be put to a reasonable use if used under conditions allowed by the official controls. 2. That the plight of the landowners was due to physical circumstances unique to his property not created by the land owner. • • •