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Olson Construction & Remodeling LLC <br />6068 -9th Street North <br />Oakdale, Minnesota 55128 <br />www.OlsonConstructionMN.com <br />info@OlsonConstructionMN.com <br />651-279-2500 <br />1 | Page <br />April 8th, 2026 <br />City of Lake Elmo <br />Planning and Zoning <br />3800 Laverne Avenue North <br />Lake Elmo, Minnesota 55042 <br />Re: Variance Request for 9960 57th Street North, Lake Elmo, Minnesota <br />The property owner, Richard Egersdorf, is requesting a variance to allow placement of a detached <br />accessory structure within the front setback as defined by Planning and Zoning. <br />This narrative is submitted in response to the variance criteria outlined in Lake Elmo City Code <br />Section 105.12.320 and reflects updated information obtained through a recent certificate of <br />survey and grading analysis. <br />Property Overview <br />The subject property is a 2.5 acre corner parcel located in the RE zoning district with dual frontage <br />along 57th Street North and Keats Avenue North. The existing residence is centrally located and <br />creates a split-access configuration with circulation from 57th Street and a historical connection to <br />Keats Avenue. <br />The property is subject to watershed regulations, specifically the Klawitter Pond Subwatershed <br />which has additional restrictions because it is a landlocked basin, requiring finished floor <br />elevations above contour 976.8. These elevation constraints, combined with setback <br />requirements, septic system location, and the 15% impervious surface limitation, significantly <br />restrict the functional buildable area. <br />Practical Difficulties <br />The proposed accessory garage represents a reasonable and customary residential use within the <br />RE zoning district. <br />Further evaluation of the site, including a current certificate of survey and grading review, has <br />identified an additional constraint not fully captured in the original narrative. Placement of an <br />accessory structure in a strictly compliant location would require significant structural modification <br />of the site in proximity to the existing septic tank and drainfield, including grading and fill <br />conditions that introduce long-term performance concerns and potential system impacts. <br />As illustrated in the updated grading analysis, this condition introduces fill within the vicinity of the <br />septic manhole and dispersal area, while also pinching and restricting access to the septic <br />manhole. This is not conducive to long-term system performance and may ultimately necessitate <br />relocation or substantial modification of the existing septic system.