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Planning Commission Regular Meeting Minutes • May 19, 1998 Page 5 1 who resided at 3127 Silver Lake Road, split her lot years ago, which created 3123 Silver Lake 2 Road. He inherited these two properties and is interested in selling 3123 Silver Lake Road. The 3 lot, which is zoned residential, is 66 feet wide, rather than the required 75 feet wide, and is not 4 currently a buildable lot. 5 Minnesota Statutes and City Ordinances require that several conditions must be satisfied for 6 approval of a variance request. No variance can be granted unless evidence is presented that 7 strict enforcement of the Ordinance will cause undue hardship; that the circumstances causing the 8 hardship were not created by the owner;that the property cannot be put to reasonable use without 9 the variance; that if the variance is granted, it will not change the essential character of the area; 10 and economic considerations alone are not the basis on the hardship. 11 As shown by the plat map, several residential properties along Silver Lake Road are less than the 12 required 75 feet. The owners of those properties have either obtained a lot width variance or are 13 grandfathered in. In order for the vacant lot on 3123 Silver Lake Road to be buildable, which 14 would be a reasonable use in this residential district, it will require a lot width variance and the 15 granting of this variance request will not alter the essential character of the neighborhood. While it is true that the owners are requesting this lot width variance because the lot will be more saleable with a variance, economic considerations are not the only reason for their variance 18 request. 19 Mr. Newgaard stated the lot has always been split. His mother had the county join the lots 20 together on the same tax statement. When she passed away, Mr.Newgaard stated he had the lots 21 split into separate tax parcels. 22 Commissioner Gondorchin asked if the property at 3127 Silver Lake Road is currently rented. 23 Mr. Newgaard stated that his stepdaughter currently occupies that property. 24 Commissioner Gondorchin noted that the property at 3127 Silver Lake Road has a gravel 25 driveway and asked if a condition could be attached to this approval that would require the 26 driveway to be paved. 27 Chair Bergstrom stated he did not believe that type of condition could be attached to this 28 approval. 29 Commissioner Kaczor questioned what the Planning Commission foresaw for this area of the 30 City. He noted that this area has four small lots which could eventually be combined and split into three standard lots.