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CASE #: ~ <br /> <br />REQUEST FOR A VARIANCE TO HEIGHT RESTRICTIONS <br />FOR AN APARTMENT BUILDING <br /> CASE OF: LORD OF LIFE CHRUCH <br /> By: Patrick Trudgeon, Principal Planner <br /> <br />Background: <br /> <br />The Lord of Life Church has submitted an application to receive a variance from the height <br />restrictions in order to construct a seniors apartment building on their property. The proposed <br />building will be located east of the current church building and along State Hwy. 47. City Code <br />restricts the height of structures to 35 feet. The applicant has proposed to construct an apartment <br />building that will reach a height of about 52 feet at the peak of the roof. <br /> <br />The following items are enclosed for your information: <br /> <br />a) <br />b) <br />c) <br />d) <br />e) <br /> <br />Site location map <br />Building Elevation Plan <br />Memo from Ramsey Fire Chief Dean Kapler <br />Proposed Findings of Fact <br />Proposed Variance <br /> <br />Observations: <br /> <br />The apartment building proposed to be constructed will be a three-story, 47-unit apartment <br />building designed for senior citizens. The peak of the roof for the apartment building will be 52 <br />feet tall at its greatest height. City Code restricts building height to 35 feet; therefore Lord of Life <br />Church will need a seventeen (17) foot variance to be able to construct the apartment building as <br />designed. <br /> <br />The Fire chief indicates that the maximum reach capability of the Fire Department. for fire <br />suppression and rescue operations is 35 feet. The Fire Chief has concerns regarding the possible <br />impairment of fire suppression activities resulting from equipment that cannot reach the roofline <br />and the difficulty in rescuing tenants on the third floor of the apartment building. However, Fire <br />Chief Dean Kapler has noted that the City of Ramsey's preliminary budget includes the purchase <br />of an aerial ladder truck in 2002. Given that fact, the Fire Chief is willing to support the request <br />for variance as long as the aerial ladder truck remains in the 2002 budget. It should also be noted <br />that Ramsey has a joint powers agreement with the Anoka and Andover Fire Departments for <br />emergency assistance and those departments do have aerial ladder trucks with reach capabilities in <br />excess of 52 feet. <br /> <br />All of the units are proposed to have decks. The decks are located no more than 31 feet from the <br />proposed grade. <br /> <br /> <br />