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RESOLUTION 2025-XX <br /> <br />APPROVING A VARIANCE TO ALLOW CONSTRUCTION OF AN <br />ATTACHED GARAGE AND CAR PORT THAT EXCEEDS AREA <br />REQUIREMENTS FOR THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 4938 121ST STREET <br />NORTH <br /> <br />WHEREAS, Julie and Greg Manning have requested approval of a variance to allow <br />construction of an attached garage and car port with a size of 2,336 square feet, where <br />1,678.75 square feet is allowed by ordinance, on property legally described as follows: <br /> <br />Lot 8, Block 1, Acres of Bald Eagle, Washington County, Minnesota. <br /> <br />WHEREAS, the Board of Zoning Adjustments and Appeals has reviewed said variance at <br />a duly called public hearing on March 13, 2025, and recommends approval with the <br />following findings and conditions: <br /> <br />1. The proposed garage shall be in adherence to the site plan dated October 23, 2024. <br /> <br />2. The proposed variance is permissible by law. <br /> <br />3. Attached garages are allowed in the R-1 zoning district, and are allowed to be 1,000 <br />square feet plus 25 percent of the amount by which the footprint of the house <br />building exceeds 1,000 square feet in size. In this case the total amount allowed <br />would be 1,674.25 square feet. This property would allow 2 accessory buildings for <br />a total combined size of 1,500 square feet. There are no accessory buildings on the <br />property. The applicant has stated that they will not construct any accessory <br />buildings. The request is a reasonable use. <br /> <br />4. The property is unique in that it is surrounded by other parcels on nearly all sides, <br />with a long driveway connecting the property to 121st Street North, creating a large <br />buffer between the property and the view of any nearby road. The house is proposed <br />to be constructed in the west-central portion of the property – the highest location <br />on the property. There are several wooded areas on the property creating a visual <br />buffer from neighboring properties. If the applicant were to construct accessory <br />buildings instead of a larger attached garage, there would be a more substantial <br />impact on neighboring properties with buildings being closer to them. There are <br />unique conditions on the property that create the need for a variance. <br /> <br />5. Attached garages are common in the R-1 zoning district. The applicants are <br />proposing to construct a larger attached garage with a car port, rather than construct <br />a number of accessory buildings with associated driveways. The property is <br />separated from view of the road by another property to the south, and the garage <br />will be screened by the existing tree cover. The requested variance will not alter the <br />essential character of the neighborhood. <br /> <br />6. There are practical difficulties in meeting the ordinance standards. <br /> <br />7. The spirit and intent of the attached garage ordinance is to not have the attached <br />garage dominate the look of the front of the house. The proposed attached garage <br />will be screened from view of adjacent properties by existing trees, and the view