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Item 05A <br />Page 10 of 11 <br /> <br />The Mounds View Vision <br />A Thriving Desirable Community <br /> <br />1. The variance is in harmony with the general purposes and intent of this Title. <br /> <br />Finding: The variance is in harmony with the general purposes and intent of this Title. <br /> <br />2. The variance is consistent with the comprehensive plan. <br /> <br />Finding: The property is guided “Single Family Detached” [Residential]. Garages are not <br />specifically addressed by the Comprehensive Plan (2010). The Variance relates <br />to the following: <br /> <br />Residential <br />Goal 1: Preserve the identity and maintain and improve the quality and <br />appearance of existing neighborhoods. <br /> <br />Goal 3: Encourage a creative approach to the use of land and related <br />residential development. <br /> <br />Policy c. The City will encourage the upgrade and expansion <br />of homes by providing flexible standards that <br />address the unique circumstances of expanding <br />existing single dwellings. <br /> <br />The proposed addition onto the attached garage will improve the quality and appearance <br />of the neighborhood. The addition is within the total combined size allowed for <br />accessory buildings within the R-1 district. <br /> <br />3. The applicant proposes to use the property in a reasonable manner not permitted by this Title or the <br />City Code. <br /> <br />Finding: It is reasonable for the garage addition to have a setback equal to the existing garage. <br /> <br />4. Unique circumstances apply to the property which do not apply to other properties in the same zone <br />or vicinity and result from lot size or shape, topography or other circumstances over which the owner <br />of the property since the enactment of this Title has had no control. The unique circumstances do not <br />result from the actions of the applicant. <br /> <br />Finding: The home was built in 1971. The Building permit (#71-281) shows a 27’ setback for the <br />front (side) yard on Skiba Drive. It is not known what the required minimum setback was <br />in 1971, but the current minimum setback is 30’ within the R-1 district. The unique <br />circumstance is that the home was built with a setback that is nonconforming to current <br />requirements. This nonconformity was not created by the applicant. <br /> <br />5. The variance does not alter the essential character of the neighborhood. <br /> <br />Finding: The reduced setback for the attached garage addition will not alter the essential <br />character of the neighborhood. <br /> <br />6. The variance requested is the minimum variance which would alleviate the practical difficulties. <br />Economic conditions alone do not constitute practical difficulties. <br /> <br />Finding: The requested variance, for the garage addition to match the setback of the existing <br />garage, would alleviate the practical difficulties.