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Mounds View Planning Commission June 18, 2008 <br />Regular Meeting Page 5 <br />________________________________________________________________________ <br /> <br /> <br />Mr. Wiggins stated the driveway would be exactly the same and in order to by-pass the trees it would <br />curve towards the house. <br /> <br />MOTION/SECOND: Commissioner Lang/Commissioner Gunn. To approve Resolution 887- <br />08, a Resolution Recommending Approval of an Administrative Variance to allow a two foot <br />setback for a driveway at 5053 Brighton Lane; MV Planning Case VR2008-002. <br /> <br />Ayes – 7 Nays – 0 Motion carried. <br /> <br />C. VR2008-004 Consideration of a Variance to Allow a six foot tall fence in the <br />front yard of 2551 Ridge Lane <br /> <br />Planning Associate Heller reported the applicants, Tom and Laurie Malaske, have requested a <br />variance to allow a six-foot tall fence in the front yard of 2551 Ridge Lane. She explained the <br />applicants live on the corner of Ridge Lane and Long Lake Road. Because they live on a corner lot <br />they have two front yards and are limited to four foot fences in both front yards beyond the house <br />line. This limits the applicants to what they can do with their backyard. The applicants are <br />requesting a variance in the front yard for a six-foot fence and the fence is already up and <br />constructed. The applicant is asking after the fact. The back yard is a few feet lower than the street <br />level and walking trail on Long Lake Road, which is heavily used. They would like to have the taller <br />fence for the additional security and privacy. <br /> <br />Planning Associate Heller stated Long Lake Road is a very busy road and many individuals use the <br />sidewalk. The applicants cannot control that their property is on a corner lot with two front yards and <br />a sidewalk. There are a handful of properties that are on corners in the city. Most property owners <br />don’t have to deal with two front yards. <br /> <br />Planning Associate Heller indicated granting the variance would not give the applicants special <br />privileges and most property owners don’t have to work with these setback constraints. Similar <br />variances have been granted for taller fences in front yard areas of corner lots for properties on busier <br />roads. Site lines have not been impacted by having the taller fence. Staff feels the requested <br />variance does satisfy the hardship criteria. Public hearing notices were sent out to properties within <br />350 feet and staff has not heard any response. <br /> <br />Chair Stevenson opened the public hearing at 7:40 p.m. <br /> <br />Tom Malaske, property owner stated the fence is 12 feet from the sidewalk. <br /> <br />Commissioner Miller questioned why the fence was built before applying for the variance. <br /> <br />Chair Stevenson stated that homeowner should check the city codes before building fences. He <br />stated it is up to the homeowner to know the city code. <br /> <br />Commissioner Meehlhause stated that he was troubled to approve a variance after the fence has <br />already been constructed.