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Planning Commission Meeting June 26, 2003 - page 2 <br />Amendment to Change Side Yard Setback in the LA, AG, and RR Zoning District <br />The Commission held a public hearing to consider decreasing the side yard setback from 40 feet <br />to 20 feet in the Rural Residential, Agricultural, and Future Urban Service Zoning Districts. The <br />CD Director explained that the City had received numerous requests for side yard setback <br />variances, which had all been recommended for approval by the Board of Zoning Adjustments <br />and approved by the City Council. The side yard setback was increased from 20 to 40 feet in <br />1999 as part of a comprehensive update to the Zoning Ordinance. The ordinance had created a <br />hardship for many property owners who had constructed their homes and planned future <br />improvements based on the 20 -foot setback requirement. <br />Schumann agreed that many homes were laid out based on the 20 -foot side yard setback. <br />The CD Director said he was unable to find anything in the minutes that directly discussed the change <br />to a 40 -foot setback. Schumann stated he was involved in the plan update and didn't recall any <br />discussion that would have initiated the change. <br />McRoberts said the Commission should not assume that the change was overlooked just because it <br />was not discussed. <br />Rosenquist said he preferred the 40 -foot setback and would rather have property owners request <br />variances. He said that to decrease the setback to 20 feet would permit construction of new homes too <br />close to property lines that abut agricultural uses. <br />Bailly suggested a "grandfather" clause be added to the ordinance to permit the 20 -foot setback for <br />homes built prior to 1999. <br />McRoberts agreed with Rosenquist that homes should not be constructed 20 feet from Agricultural <br />property. <br />The CD Director said they could consider limiting the 40 -foot setback to accessory buildings only. <br />Schumann opened the public but there were no comments so he closed the public hearing. <br />Rosenquist made motion, Kleissler seconded, to recommend the ordinance remain unchanged. <br />All Ayes. Motion carried. <br />McRoberts commented that the Commission was opposed to granting variances to permit <br />construction of new homes less than 40 feet from the property line because of potential conflicts <br />with agricultural uses. <br />Site Plans for White Bear Electric, Grant Barrette Company, and J. Olson Tool, Inc. <br />Faulkner Construction, Inc., 2350 County Road J, White Bear Lake, requested site plan approval <br />