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Planning Commission Regular Meeting Minutes <br /> June 17, 1997 <br /> Page 8 <br /> 1 Ms. Moore-Sykes reported Mr. and Mrs. Ingdal are proposing to buy a vacant lot at 3613 <br /> 2 Edward Street. The lot is 60 feet by 265 feet, giving it 15,900 square feet, which is more <br /> 3 area than is required for an interior R-1 lot. This R-1 designated lot is only 60 feet wide, <br /> 4 making it a non-buildable lot according to the City's Zoning Ordinance. The Zoning <br /> 5 Ordinance requires that all R-1 interior lots be 75 feet wide, so this lot width variance request <br /> 6 is for 15 feet. <br /> 7 Several lots in this residential neighborhood are only 60 feet wide or less and were developed <br /> 8 before the Ordinance was codified in 1976. The house on the property directly south of the <br /> 9 subject property, 3609 Edward Street, was constructed in 1964; the construction date of the <br /> 10 property north of the subject property was 1945. <br /> 11 When Mr. and Mrs. Ingdal met with Staff, there was some concern that,this lot had been <br /> 12 illegally subdivided from one of the adjacent properties. The City Zoning Code does not <br /> 13 allow for the subdivision of property that creates a lot that is smaller than the minimum lot <br /> 14 size required, (Section 1650.01, Subd. 1). But upon examining the tax records and speaking <br /> 15 to the Ingdals, City Staff determined that the platting of these lots had occurred prior to <br /> 16 August 18, 1976 and the subject lot was not and had not been owned by the owners of the <br /> 17 adjacent lots. <br /> 18 The Ingdals are proposing to construct their home on this lot, should their variance request be <br /> 19 approved. They have assured Staff that they will not require additional variances; the square <br /> 20 footage of the lot is sufficient to build a home on. <br /> 21 The hardship that this variance request seeks to mitigate is that the lot was platted and <br /> 22 recorded with Hennepin County before the City's Zoning Ordinance was codified. The <br /> 23 hardship is not of the applicant's making, but is unique to the area and this lot. The granting <br /> 24 of this variance request would be supportive of the City's commitment to the Livable <br /> 25 Communities Act and in agreement with St. Anthony's Housing Action Plan. <br /> 26 Ms. Moore-Sykes stated Staff is recommending approval of the lot width variance request for <br /> 27 15 feet. Mr. and Mrs. Ingdal are proposing to build their home on this site, which is one of <br /> 28 the few vacant lots remaining in the City. <br /> 29 Mr. Ingdal displayed a rough site plan of the home he and his wife are proposing. The house <br /> 30 will be 44 feet by 44 feet with 8 foot sideyard setbacks on both sides and a front yard setback <br /> 31 of 30 feet. <br /> 32 Commissioner Franzese questioned the steep elevation in the front of the property and asked <br /> 33 if the adjacent homes were setback 30 feet. <br /> 34 Mr. Ingdal stated he hoped to leave the elevation as is and save a tree located in that area. <br /> 35 He may need to shift the garage to the other side of the lot to accomplish this. He stated the <br /> 36 home to the north is located closer than 30 feet and the home on the south is setback about 30 <br /> 37 feet. <br />