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STAFF REPORT DATE: May 19, 1998 TO: Planning Commissioners FROM: Kim Moore-Sykes, Management Assistant ITEM: 98-07 Sideyard Variance Request for 3613 Edward St. John Malenick, Buyer BACKGROUND: Mr. and Mrs. John Malenick recently purchase 3613 Edward Street N.E. from John and Liesha Ingdahl. As you recall, Mr. and Mrs. Ingdahl came before the Planning Commission on May 20, 1997 and requested a lot width variance for this parcel so they could build a home. The recommendation to approve the lot width variance was submitted to the City Council and was granted at a subsequent Council meeting. Apparently, Mr. and Mrs. Ingdahl have decided not to build and put the lot up for sale. Mr. Malenick is a full time firefighter for the City of St. Anthony and has been looking for a residence in"St. Anthony for his family. When this vacant lot became available, it was an opportunity to build a home to suit the needs of his family. ANALYSIS: Mr. Malenick submitted an application for a variance of 1'/2 feet to the north sideyard in order to be able to construct his home. The house he proposes to build is 46.5 feet wide and has a 5- foot sideyard on the south and 8.5 on the north side of the lot. The total square footage of imperious surfaces is 3,806.5, including the proposed driveway and lot coverage is 23.9%. The lot coverage is within the 35% lot coverage restriction as stipulated in the City Ordinance. Minnesota.Statutes and City Ordinances require that several conditions-must be satisfied-for approval of this variance request. As such, no variance will be granted unless the evidence presented discloses that strict enforcement of the Ordinance would cause undue hardship because the property cannot be put to a reasonable use without the variance. This parcel is only 60 feet wide, as are many of the lots in this area; several of the homes were built between . 1930 and 1969, before insulation and R-values were possibly considerations in the construction of these homes; and the area is zoned R-1. Keeping this lot vacant would not be a reasonable use, nor its greatest or best use. The circumstances causing the hardship must also not be created by the owner. As reported by Staff during the May 20, 1997 public hearing for the lot width variance for this parcel, this lot was platted before the City's Zoning Ordinance was adopted, therefore this hardship was not created by the current owner.