Agenda Packets - 2006/07/24 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mounds View City Council July 10, 2006 Regular Meeting Page 12 Council that Mr. Slabiak did not know he had to go through a variance process when he 1 purchased the property. 2 3 Councilmember Thomas asked the applicant how much square footage the collection currently 4 occupies. Mr. Slabiak presented the Council with a layout of his current collection. He stated 5 the collection currently resides in part of his garage, his lower level, a bedroom, and a storage 6 unit. He stated he does not currently have a display and it will not fit in his current square 7 footage. 8 9 Mr. Caulsniak and Mr. Slabiak explained the dimensions of the areas that are currently occupied 10 by his collection. 11 12 Councilmember Thomas stated she is looking for the difference in the space the collection 13 currently occupies versus the square footage for which Mr. Slabiak is asking. Mr. Slabiak 14 responded he would like to clear out some family areas for his expanding family. He added the 15 property owner behind him approves of the building. 16 17 Councilmember Thomas stated there have been many changes with the allowed accessory 18 building space and all have been to increase allowed accessory storage. She stated the square 19 footage number was put in place to address large lots. She stated there was a significant 20 limitation in the past and the current allowance is much broader and is the most generous amount 21 allowed ever in the City. 22 23 Councilmember Thomas stated she is in favor of more storage space, but the hardship is of the 24 applicant’s creation. 25 26 Councilmember Thomas explained that the issue is a matter of the design of the building and she 27 does believe a variance is detrimental to the code. She stated the Council should not make a 28 determination based on lot size. She added that the Council takes variances very seriously and 29 she believes the applicant could make the building smaller to satisfy the code. She stated that if 30 the applicant wanted to add on to his house, it would be an entirely different issue. 31 32 Mayor Marty stated that many discussions have revolved around accessory building in the past 33 and Staff developed a generous accessory building ordinance. He stated he felt at the time that 34 1,800 square feet was large, but the ordinance has since decreased the amount of time spent 35 discussing such variances. 36 37 Mr. Slabiak explained that he had considered an addition to his house, but was under the 38 impression that he would be allowed to build the accessory building when he purchased his 39 home. He stated the costs are continually rising for the proposed building and building a home 40 addition would be even more expensive. He stated his wife would like to remove the collection 41 from the home. He also pointed out the building could be used in many different ways if he were 42 to sell the property. Mr. Slabiak stated that within his constraints, the proposed accessory 43 building is his only option. 44 45