Agenda - Planning Commission - 03/11/2004

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CASE # PUBLIC HEARING REQUEST FOR AN INTERIM USE PERMIT TO ALLOW FOR OUTSIDE STORAGE OF COMMERCIAL EQUIPMENT IN THE FRONT YARD OF A RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY; CASE OF JEFF AND BARBARA ROCKOW By: Chris Anderson, Community Development Assistant Background: The City received a complaint in April of 2003 regarding illegally stored trailers at'18015 Ute St NW. An inspection revealed that several trailers were, in fact, being stored illegally in the front yard. The Rockows were sent notification of the violation and were informed of what needed to be done to comply with City Code. The Rockows did clean up the area where the trailers are being stored. This included removing all the scrap aluminum from the property (it was being stored in one of the trailers), moving the stack of fire wood, and storing other items indoors or removing them from the property. Furthermore, the Rockows did install five (5) ever~een trees along Ute Street as an attempt to screen the trailers from properties across the street. However, the trailers were still being illegally stored in the front yard and the Rockows were informed that the trailers either needed to be relocated on the property to comply with City Code, stored indoors, or removed from the property. Nh:. Rockow informed Staff that it was not feasible to move the trailers to the side yard (on one side due to the topography and on the other side due to a number of mature oak trees) or to the rear yard, again due to the topography (the property slopes down toward Rogers Lake). Nor was it feasible to store the trailers on the driveway due to its narrow width. Eventually, Mr. Rockow agreed to construct a detached garage to hOuse the trailers in an attempt to resolve the matter. However, due to the topography of the land and the setback requirement from Rogers' Lake, he .had to apply for a Variance for the location of the structure. He also requested a Conditional Use Permit to exceed the' allotted square footage for the size of his parcel. While constructing an accessory structure was not an ideal solution, he was willing construct the building to resolve this matter. At the public hearings for those requests, some of the residents in the neighborhood stated that they were not in favor of a building being constructed; others stated that they thought the trailers were fine in the current location. During that meeting~ it was noted that Mr. Rockow could apply for an Interim Use Permit to allow for the continued storage of the trailers in their current location. The matter was tabled until the March meeting. Mr. Rockow has since withdrawn his request ~br a Variance and Conditional Use Permit and has submitted an application for an Interim Use Permit.