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STAFF REPORT • DATE: June 17, 1997 TO: Planning Commission Members FROM: Kim Moore-Sykes, Management Assistant ITEM: 97-04 R-1 Lot Width Variance for 3613 Edward Street -- John and Liesha Ingdal, Buyers BACKGROUND: Mr. and Mrs. Ingdal are proposing to buy a vacant lot at 3613 Edward Street. The lot is 60 ft. x 265 ft, giving it 15,900 sq. ft., which is more area than is required for an interior R-1 lot. This R-1 designated lot is only 60 ft. wide, making it a non-buildable lot according to the City's Zoning Ordinance. The Zoning Ordinance requires that all R-1 interior lots be 75 feet wide, so this lot width variance request is for 15 feet. ANALYSIS: Several lots in this residential neighborhood are only 60 ft. wide or less and were developed before the Ordinance was codified in 1976. The house on the property directly south of the subject property, 3609 Edward Street, was constructed in 1964; the construction date of the property north of the subject property was 1945. . When Mr. and Mrs. Ingdal met with Staff, there was some concern that this lot had been illegally subdivided from one of the adjacent properties. The City Zoning Code does not allow for the subdivision of property that creates a lot that is smaller than the minimum lot size required, (Section 1650.01, Subd. 1). But upon examining the tax records and speaking to the Ingdals, City Staff determined that the platting of these lots had occurred prior to August 18, 1976 and the subject lot was not and had not been owned by the owners of the adjacent lots. The Ingdals are proposing to construct their home on this lot, should their variance request is approved. They have assured Staff that they will not require additional variances; the square footage of the lot is sufficient to build a home on. The hardship that this variance request seeks to mitigate is that the lot was platted and recorded with Hennepin County before the City's Zoning Ordinance was codified. The hardship is not of the applicants' making, but is unique to the area and this lot. The granting of this variance request would be supportive of the City's commitment to the Livable Communities Act and in agreement with St. Anthony's Housing Action Plan. RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends approval of the lot width variance request for 15 feet. Mr. and Mrs. Ingdal are proposing to build their home on this site, which is one of the few vacant lots remaining in the City. Because Mrs. Ingdal is from St. Anthony, they are very committed to this project.