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LAKE ELMO CITY COUNCIL MINUTES SEPTEMBER 15, 1987 PAGE 4 A neighbor commented that their new pond is not going down and was concerned if there are any new buildings in that area of the back lot, would cause the water to go up. Mayor Christ closed the public hearing at 8:15 p.m. Mayor Christ was in favor of this variance because he felt in this situation there is a distinct grandfathered application and Mr. Meyer has been a one-man operation for twenty some years with equipment stored outside causing much more of an eyesore than a structure that would enclose the equipment and make it much more esthetically pleasing. Christ believed by the "grandfathered clause" it would not be in any way construed as an increase in the non -conforming activity, but rather an esthetically pleasing addition to an already existing business. Councilman Moe was in favor of granting this variance because of the safety factor with the children that might get hurt that are playing on his equipment which could be housed indoors and out of reach of the children. Councilman Graves addressed his concern of granting two variances; the number of accessory structures and the size of accessory structure. He did not know how to define expansion of an existing non -conforming use. It isn't permitting Mr. Meyer to increase the number of pieces of equipment or taking on new partners. In appearance, it clearly makes it less an R-1 area than it is now, but he has not heard any negative comments from that standpoint. Russ Anderson asked Mr. Meyer if the building would be strictly for equipment and not for antique cars? He would hate to see the building up and the equipment still stored outside. Meyer responded that he already has a pole building in West Lakeland for antique cars. Mr. Meyer said he would be willing to have both parcels combined into one parcel which would clear up the question that if the property is sold and someone might try to develop the rear lot to the east. Councilwoman Armstrong stated that the equipment that will be housed already exists, this would clean up the yard, the other building is being used for this business which everyone in Lake Elmo knows has been there for a long time. Therefore, she made the following motion based on the hardship that the equipment is already there and it would not be expanding his business, they would be planning a place to put the existing amount of equipment he has. Councilman Graves would vote for the motion with the interpretation that this is a grandfathered business and this would just be supporting an existing business and there is no intent to expand the business with the erection of the building and all existing equipment, that is presently stored outside, will be stored inside. accessory building in an R1 zoning district; to grant a variance for a 1800 sq.ft. accessory building at 3303 Lake Elmo Avenue N. for Bernard