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Item 05A <br />Page 2 of 7 <br /> <br />The Mounds View Vision <br />A Thriving Desirable Community <br />Oversized garages are not addressed in the Comprehensive Plan. The addition of a <br />garage is an investment in the property, which should have a positive effect on <br />surrounding property values. Currently, the property does not have a garage, whereas <br />most neighboring homes do. Neighboring homes were built in 1941 (east side of <br />street), and in the 1950’s & 1960’s (west side of street). Most garages are detached, <br />and one or two car’s in size. 8011 Long Lake Road has a 924 sq ft detached garage <br />(two houses north). 7980 Woodlawn Dr (house behind) had an 850 sq ft attached <br />garage. The applicant’s garage will be the largest on the block, but not entirely out of <br />character when considering the size of the house (e.g. tall house). <br /> <br />Variance <br />A Variance may be approved if the request meets seven criteria 3, which are detailed in <br />Resolution 1146-22. Commonly, the more difficult criteria to meet is #4; <br /> <br />Unique circumstances apply to the property which do not apply to other <br />properties in the same zone or vicinity and result from lot size or shape, <br />topography or other circumstances over which the owner of the property since <br />the enactment of this chapter has had no control. The unique circumstances do <br />not result from the actions of the applicant. <br /> <br />The unique circumstance is the City Code’s requirement that an oversized garage be <br />unique in appearance to the house. The 28’ garage depth is more than typical (e.g. 22’ <br />– 24’ depth). However, it is Staff’s opinion that the proposed garage is reasonable. <br /> <br />An alternative would be to reduce the garage depth, resulting in reducing the garage <br />height while maintaining a 10:12 or 12:12 roof pitch, or to construct the garage two cars <br />wide, and two cars deep. Either option may still result in a garage taller than 18’, but <br />less than 24’. <br /> <br /> <br />Strategic Plan Strategy/Goal: <br />Continue BR&E program, maximize utilization of development space and current list of <br />available sites, encourage land owners to maintain their properties, & consider <br />residential redevelopment. <br /> <br /> <br />Financial Impact: <br />N/A <br /> <br /> <br />Recommendation: <br />Staff recommends approval. CUP’s for oversized garages are not unusual. In 2021, a <br />CUP was approved for a 28’ X 44’ garage (1,232 sq ft) on Lambert Avenue. In 2020, a <br />CUP was approved for a 26’ X 46’ garage (1,196 sq ft) on County Road H2. <br /> <br /> <br />3 Mounds View City Code §160.466(B) (Criteria for Granting Variances)