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Motion carried. Voting Yes: Chairperson Nixt, Board Members Van Scoy, Brauer, Levine, Shepherd, and Watson. Voting No: None. Absent: Board Member Johnson. PUBLIC HEARINGS/BOARD BUSINESS Case Itl: Request for a Variance to Front Yard Setback and Driveway Length Requirements in Ramsey Town Center 12th Addition; Case of Ramsey Town Center, LLC Presentation Assistant Community Development Director Frolik advised that Ramsey Town Center, LLC, is proposing to develop the proposed plat of Ramsey Town Center 12th Addition. The development consists of 72 townhome units. She stated that the subject property is zoned Town Center Sub- district TC-4b. She indicated that the City Code establishes a minimum front yard setback of 1 feet and a maximum front yard setback of 25 feet. She stated that this section of City Code also establishes a minimum driveway length of 20 feet and a maximum driveway length of 25 feet. Assistant Community Development Director Frolik stated that the front yard setbacks for the townhomes are generally 30 feet; most significant deviation being the northernmost unit on Lot 1 with a setback of approximately 50 feet. She indicated that the reasons for the hardship in complying with front yard setbacks are that the significant grade changes between Bunker Lake Boulevard that prohibit bringing the units any closer to the street, and that the property is too deep for row houses but not deep enough for back-to-back units. Assistant Community Development Director Frolik indicated that it appears from the exhibit provided that all of the driveways will be at least 20 feet in length and a majority of them will not exceed 25 feet in length. She stated that 12 of the 72 units will have driveways that exceed 25 feet in length. She noted that these extraordinary lengths am a result of dealing with a horseshoe shaped plat and curvilinear streets. Commissioner Van Scoy asked if the grade is natural. City Engineer Jankowski indicated that Bunker Lake Boulevard predates the Ramsey Town Center. He stated that he understands the grade was created to accommodate single-family homes, which left it to these townhomes to work the grade between Bunker Lake Boulevard and the single-family homes. Jeff Schrock, URS, indicated that before they started building here, Bunker Lake Boulevard was higher than the grade, so the whole area is fill. He stated they had to raise it up to get drainage, and to have saleable lots with lookouts and walkouts they had to raise it significantly. He indicated they cannot lower the grades much because the ground needs to drain toward the road. Board of Adjustment/December 1, 2005 Page 2 of 5