Minutes - Planning Commission - 06/02/2016

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Motion by Commissioner VanScoy, seconded by Commissioner Nosan, to approve the following minutes as presented: Planning Commission Meeting Minutes dated May 5, 2016. Motion Carried. Voting Yes: Chairperson Levine, Commissioners VanScoy, Nosan, Andrusko, Bauer, and Brauer. Voting No: None. Absent: Commissioner Maul. 5. PUBLIC HEARINGS/COMMISSION BUSINESS 5.01: Consider a Request for a Variance from the Ordinary High Water (OHW) Line Setback, Front Lot Line Setback, and Maximum Number of Driveways Allowed at the Property located at 14301 Neon Street NW (Project #16-86); Case of Greg and Rachelle Binfet Public Hearing Chairperson Levine called the public hearing to order at 7:04 p.m. Presentation Community Development Intern Meyers presented the staff report stating the City has received an application for a variance to the Ordinary High Water (OHW) building setback, as well as to the front lot line setback, and to the maximum number of driveways permitted. The applicant is proposing to construct a twenty-four foot by thirty foot (24' x 30'), or 720 square foot, detached accessory building on the property located at 14301 Neon St. NW (the "Subject Property"). The proposed location, as noted previously, would be within both the OHW setback and the front yard setback for accessory structures. The Subject Property is located in the southeastern quadrant of Ramsey. It is zoned R-1 Residential (MUSA) and is within the Shoreland Overlay District. Neon Street NW, a private street, services a total of five residences ranging from 0.5 to 1.5 acres in size, all of which are also zoned R-1 Residential (MUSA). Community Development Intern Meyers explained the Subject Property is just over one (1) acre in size (45, 5725 square feet), and is considered irregular in shape. Two (2) of the six (6) property lines abut Ramsey Terrace Pond (east and south), two (2) more abut Neon Street NW (west), and the remaining two (2) abut residential properties (north and southwest). The topography of the parcel ranges in elevation from 871 feet to the north (near the home), down to 857.3 at the southernmost point. The unimproved area south of the residence is densely wooded and decreases in slope from Neon St. NW to the shore. Community Development Intern Meyers discussed the request in further detail and believed that the Applicant has successfully demonstrated all three factors of the practical difficulties test, and therefore should be granted a variance to the applicable Code requirements, thus allowing for construction of the accessory structure within the OHW and front lot line setbacks, and construction of a secondary driveway. The absence of accurate elevation information is, however, a point of concern. Staff would like to request that the Applicant furnish the City with a survey similar to the survey submitted with the original proposal, which features the location and Planning Commission/June 2, 2016 Page 2 of 7