HomeMy WebLinkAboutPZ MINUTES 6-12-23Lake Elmo Planning Commission Meeting Minutes: 6-12-23
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City of Lake Elmo Planning Commission Meeting City
Council Chambers – 3880 Laverne Avenue North
Minutes of Regular Meeting of
June 12, 2023
CALL TO ORDER: Commission Chair Risner called to order the meeting of the Lake Elmo Planning Commission at 7:00 p.m.
COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Risner, Bohlig, Geffre, Rehkamp, Steil, Williams, Vrieze
COMMISSIONERS ABSENT: None STAFF PRESENT: City Planner Sophia Jensen
Pledge of Allegiance at 7:00 PM
Approve Agenda:
M/S/P: Rehkamp / Bohlig: made a motion to approve the agenda. Vote: 7-0, motion carried unanimously
Approve Minutes:
M/S/P: Vrieze / Williams made a motion to approve the 4-10-23 meeting minutes with Vote: 7-0, motion carried unanimously.
PUBLIC HEARING a)4708 Larkspur Lane Variance. (PID 12.029.21.14.0009 ) Bob Appert has submitted a variance application for
deviations from the Shoreland Overlay District impervious surface requirement for unsewered lots.
Sophia Jensen, City Planner, gave presentation and answered questions.
REVIEW AND ANALYSIS/DRAFT FINDINGS:
An applicant must establish and demonstrate compliance with the variance criteria set forth in Lake Elmo City Code Section
105.12.320 before the City may grant an exception or modification to city code requirements. These criteria are listed below, along
with comments from Staff about the applicability of these criteria to the applicant’s request.
1)Practical Difficulties. A variance to the provision of this chapter may be granted by the Board of Adjustment upon the
application by the owner of the affected property where the strict enforcement of this chapter would cause practical difficulties
because of circumstances unique to the individual property under consideration and then only when it is demonstrated that such
actions will be in keeping with the spirit and intent of this chapter. Definition of practical difficulties - “Practical difficulties” as used
in connection with the granting of a variance, means that the property owner proposes to use the property in a reasonable manner
not permitted by an official control.
FINDINGS: The applicant is proposing to construct a single family home on a platted lot. The proposed house would only add up to
11% impervious surface but due to the existing farm buildings and neighbor/HOA encroachments the property is pushed over the
maximum impervious surface allowance of the Shoreland Overlay District.
2)Unique Circumstances. The plight of the landowner is due to circumstances unique to the property not created by the
landowner.
FINDINGS: The property is a part of the original Goetschels farmstead. The applicant is not responsible for the existing
encroachments or farm buildings that are currently on the property but has the intent to preserve these improvements. The applicant
has made efforts to avoid the variance process to no avail.
3)Character of Locality. The proposed variance will not alter the essential character of the locality in which the property in
question is located.
FINDINGS: The construction of a single family home and preservation of the existing farm buildings would not alter the essential
character of the neighborhood. The removal of the existing farm buildings would negatively alter the essential character given the
neighborhood was built around this farmstead.
Lake Elmo Planning Commission Meeting Minutes: 6-12-23
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4) Adjacent Properties and Traffic. The proposed variance will not impair an adequate supply of light and air to properties
adjacent to the property in question or substantially increase the congestion of the public streets or substantially diminish or impair
property values within the neighborhood.
FINDINGS: The proposed single family home meets all required setbacks and would be spaced adequately from adjacent residences.
The addition of a single family home would not significantly increase congestion on the public street or impair property values.
M/S/P: Steil / Geffre moved to open the public hearing at 7:09 PM. Vote: 7-0, motion carried unanimously.
Public Comments:
Kjersti Moline, 4698 Larkspur Lane N: Spoke and is in favor of this variance.
M/S/P: Bohlig / Steil moved to close the public hearing at 7:11 PM. Vote: 7-0, motion carried unanimously.
M/S/P: Vrieze / Williams: move to recommend approval of the request from Bob Appert for a variance to allow an impervious
surface coverage of 18.8% at 4708 Larkspur Lane North with the conditions listed in the staff report. Vote: 7-0, motion carried
unanimously.
PUBLIC HEARING
b) Zoning Text Amendment. The City of Lake Elmo has initiated a text amendment to section 105.12.200 Permitted
Encroachments to clarify permitted encroachments on required yard setbacks.
Sophia Jensen, City Planner, gave presentation and answered questions.
M/S/P: Geffre / Steil moved to open the public hearing at 7:17 PM. Vote: 7-0, motion carried unanimously.
Public Comments: None
M/S/P: Steil / Rehkamp moved to close the public hearing at 7:17 PM. Vote: 7-0, motion carried unanimously.
M/S/P: Bohlig / Geffre: move to recommend adoption of the proposed text amendment, for permitted encroachments, in Section
105.12.200 Permitted Encroachments on Required Yards as presented. Vote: 7-0, motion carried unanimously.
New/Unfinished Business
N/A
Communications/Updates - City Council Updates
i. Drake Motor Partners Final Plat and PUD – approved
ii. Amira Final Plat, PUD, and Variance - approved
iii. Frisbie Minor Subdivision - approved
Upcoming Meetings
a) June 26th 2023 – Canceled
b) July 10, 2023
Meeting adjourned at 7:20 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Diane Wendt
Permit Technician