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1 Planning Commission Regular Meeting Minutes April 20, 2010 Page 2 1 Architects, advised staff of the plans to provide for a six (6) foot wide porch. He inquired of 2 staff about the possibility of applying for a variance to allow for a traditional front porch because 3 the property owners are looking for a front porch that would be more conducive to having an 4 outdoor living space. He and the owners presented their proposal for the front porch to the 5 Planning Commission in a concept review at the March 16, 2010 Planning Commission meeting. 6 A formal application for a variance was submitted to and accepted by the City. 7 8 Assistant City Manager Moore-Sykes presented staff's analysis of the following findings of fact 9 relative to the subject property: 1) The property cannot be put to a reasonable use without the 10 variance; 2) The circumstances causing the hardship were not created by the owner; 3)The 11 variance, if granted, will not alter the essential characteristics of the locality; 4) Economic 12 considerations alone are not the basis of the hardship; 5) The circumstances causing the hardship 13 are unique to the individual lot; 6) The granting of the variance is in keeping with the spirit and 14 intent of the Zoning Code. 15 16 Assistant City Manager Moore-Sykes stated staff has received two letters in support of the 17 proposed project and feel that the one foot variance would have little to no impact on the 18 neighborhood. No phone.calls or emails were received regarding this application. 19 20 Chair Jensen stated for the record, the letters received in favor of the proposed project are from 21 the property owners immediately north and south of the subject property. 22 23 Mrs. Holly Wick Bower, applicant, addressed the Planning Commission and expressed the 24 excitement of she and her husband to be working with Jeremiah Battles on the major 25 architectural renovation of their home. She stated they love their neighborhood and neighbors. 26 There are many children in the yards, riding bikes, etc. They are excited to have this porch on 27 the front of the house and to watch their children grow. She stated they are hoping the Planning 28 Commission will take the renovations plans into consideration. 29 30 Mr. Jeremiah Battles, Acacia Architects, presented the Hennepin County Property Map—Tax 31 Year 2010. He discussed the lot size of the subject property in comparison to several larger lots 32 in the area, and explained that the smaller lots have been pushed up to the setback line. Mr. 33 Battles presented the architectural drawings and site plan for the proposed project. He stated the 34 property owners to the north and to the south of this property are very supportive of the proposed 35 project. Mr. and Mrs. Bower would like to include a traditional front porch in the remodeling 36 project, and he has informed them that a six to eight foot wide front porch would be more usable 37 than a five foot wide porch. 38 39 Chair Jensen requested information regarding the concept review discussion about whether there 40 is a need for a variance on the structural setback for the footings. Mr. Battles replied that the 41 footings would still need to be at the six foot measurement and will not change the grade at all. 42 He explained that the existing front porch stoop footing already sticks out to the six foot line. He 43 stated when he had inquired at the City about this issue he was unformed that a review of the 44 plans would be necessary. 45