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CASE REQUEST FOR A VARIANCE TO CUL-DE-SAC LENGTH, AND MINIMUM LOT WIDTH AND STRUCTURE SETBACK FROM ORDINARY HIGH WATER MARK IN A SHORELAND OVERLAY DISTRICT; CASE OF NORTH FORK, INC. By: Zoning Administrator Sylvia Frolik Background: North Fork, Inc. is in the process of platting Northfork Itasca Point, 7 single family residential lots on the north side of Lake Itasca. The lots are subject to the regulations for the Shoreland Overlay District for Lake Itasca. As such, the lots are required to be at least 200 feet wide at the road frontage or building setback line. In addition, the riparian lots or lots adjacent to the lake must be deep enough to provide for a 200 foot structure setback from ordinary high water mark. Additionally, City Code restricts cul-de-sac lengths to 600 feet. Notification: In accordance with State Statute, owners of property within 350 feet of the subject property were notified of the request for variance. Observations: The average lot width of the 7 lots at the road frontage or building setback line is 1,400 feet (7 x 200), but on a lot by lot basis, Lot 5 is approximately 30 feet shy of the 200 mark. In telephone conversations with DNR staff, they do not see a problem with a slight deviation from the lot width requirement on any single lot, as long as a total frontage of 1,400 feet for the 7 lots is maintained. In order to minimize destruction of mature trees and distUrbance of existing topography, the developer has requested a variance to the 200 foot structure setback from ordinary high water mark on Lots 4, 5 and 6. In 1989, Minnesota Rules were amended to decrease the recommended structure setback from ordinary high water mark in the shoreland districts from 200 feet to 150 feet. Ramsey's shoreland regulations have not been updated since the Minnesota rules were amended. Staffhas been working .with DNR to accomplish this task. In telephone conversations with DNR staff, they do not object to the proposed variances to the setback from the ordinary high water mark as long as the State recommended minimum of 150 feet is maintained. The developer's plan maintains a structure setback of at least 156 feet on Lots 4, 5 and 6. The lots are proposed to receive public access from the extension of a 'cul-de-sac that is approximately 1,000 feet in length. Severe slopes in the area result in a penninsula of land not wide enough to accommodate two roads.