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Chuck Bower& Holly Wick Bower 3038 Harding St. NE St. Anthony, MN 55418 March 18, 2010 St. Anthony Village Planning Commission& City Council 3301 Silver Lake Road St. Anthony, MN 55418 Attention: Kim Moore-Sykes Dear St. Anthony Village Planning Commission &City Council, Subject: Variance Application for 3038 Harding St. NE Statement of unique circumstances and undue hardship for the granting of the variance: The front of our home at 3038 Harding St. NE was built right up to the front yard setback with the front exterior wall sitting at the 30' setback limit. This location chosen by the builder in 1955 allows for very little flexibility in terms of what we can do to the front of the house. We would like to add an open front porch to a portion of the front of our home to give guests a covered entry, add some curb appeal, and add to the sense of community in our neighborhood via the social interaction that an open front porch encourages. The front yard encroachment limit is 5'-0", which does not allow enough depth for a usable front porch to be added to the home. Our Architect, Jeremiah Battles of Acacia Architects, has advised us that 6'-0" to 8'-0" is the minimum depth for a usable front porch. Because of this we are asking for a 1'-0" extension past the 5'-0" front yard encroachment to allow us a 6'-0"deep open front porch. The current concrete front step and foundation, that is in need of repair, sits 6'-0" out from the face of the house. The face of the new front porch would not extend beyond this and would not disturb the front yard grade. Our goal is to keep the porch as open as possible in the front so as to not disturb views. We think the porch will add a tremendous amount to the home and neighborhood by creating space for our growing family and by adding curb appeal and market value to our home and the homes around us. Statement of request: We are seeking a variance for a 1'-0" extension past the 5'-0" front yard encroachment for the purpose of adding a 6'-0" deep open front porch to a portion of the front of the house. Sincerely, Sincerely, Chuck Bower& Holly Wick Bower Enclosures (6)