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Site Plan The site is arranged to provide a single access point from Foss Road leading to a single-loaded row of parking along the northern edge of the site. The parking lot is separated from the adjoining property line and storm sewer easement by a retaining wall that is shown to be as high as 4.5 feet in height above the existing grade to the north, although the bulk of the wall will be less than 2 feet in height. It is situated so as to avoid an existing catch basin that collects stormwater from the townhome property parking area to the north, and which creates a small encroachment onto the subject property. The site plan design provides a turn-around space at the end of the parking row, and shows a trash enclosure at the end of the drive-aisle. The materials do not detail the trash enclosure, but the code requires that such enclosures are constructed of materials that match those of the principal building, as discussed below. As noted above, the parking aisle has been extended to add 5 parking spaces, and the trash enclosure is shifted farther east as a result. In response to neighbor concerns over the impact of the trash enclosure on nearby residential units, the applicant has added a roof cover to the structure. The plan provides a sidewalk along the north side of the building to a patio location at the northeast corner of the building. The plan further includes a deck that would overlook the ponding area and Mirror Lake to the east of the site. That sidewalk connects to the front of the building and to Foss Road. There is no public sidewalk along Foss Road at the current time. Setback Variance Two aspects of the site plan require the consideration of variances from the relevant code requirements. The first of these relates to building location, and a request for a side yard setback variance to the south property line of 10 feet, 6 inches, below the standard setback requirement of 20 feet. The north side setback is approximately 60 feet. The lot width is 124.7 feet total. Variance requests are reviewed as to whether there are unique conditions present on the property, not created by the applicant/owner, which create practical difficulties in putting the property to reasonable use without the variance. In this case, the lot width is the controlling factor that generates the issue with setback. The parking and driveway widths to the north are as narrow as can be reasonably functional, and the storm sewer line limits the ability to extend improvements farther north than shown. Under the R-4 zoning, reasonable use would include a multi-family building. The units themselves are already below the baseline threshold, as discussed above. It is not practical to shrink the internal units any more than the proposed design. Other external improvements include the sidewalk along the north side of the facility, which provides access to outdoor spaces on and around the site. The design leaves a small area for landscape planting between the building and the sidewalk. Eliminating any of these elements would negatively impact the livability of the site, and as noted, are a function of the reasonable land use (multi-family residential) and existing lot width. In summary, staff believes that the factors for the variance are present in this regard, as no other reasonable building and parking design would accommodate full setbacks on both sides of the building. Parking Variance The second variance request relates to the requirement for parking for the facility, and the further requirement that the larger part of the parking is placed below grade. 1. Parking Supply. There are two issues at play with regard to supply. Under the regular senior multi-family standard, a total of 38 parking spaces would be required, at the 1.1 space per unit minimum. As noted, the applicant has provided a revised site plan showing 16 spaces, increased over the original 11 spaces proposed. The applicant contends that this supply will account for employee parking demand of 5 spaces, and at least 10 or more visitor spaces during most days. 25