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<br />CASE # I <br /> <br />PUBLic HEARING <br />REQUEST FOR A VARIANCE TO CONSTRUCT AN ACCESSORY <br />BUILDING NEARER THE FRONT PROPERTY LINE THAN THE <br />PRINCIPAL BUILDING; CASE OF LYNN & JENNIFER BAKKEN <br />By: Chris Anderson, Zoning & Recycling Coordinator <br /> <br />Background: <br /> <br />Section 9.11.02 of the Ramsey City Code states that on properties less than two (2) acres in size, <br />no accessory building shall be constructed nearer the front property line than the principal <br />building. Mr. and Mrs. Bakken have applied for a variance to construct an accessory building <br />nearer the front property line than the principal building on the property located at 6328 <br />Riverdale Drive NW. The following items are enclosed for your information: <br /> <br />a) Site location map <br />b) Site plan <br />c) Comments submitted by two adjoining property owners <br />d) Proposed Findings of Fact <br />e) Proposed Variance <br /> <br />Notification: <br /> <br />In accordance. with State Statute, Staff sent notification to property owners within 350 feet of the <br />subject property of the request for a variance. <br /> <br />Observations: <br /> <br />The subject property is just over a half acre in size and thus, City Code requires any detached <br />accessory building to be constructed in the side or rear yard. However, the property, which abuts <br />the Mississippi River, is also located in the Critical River Corridor. In 1985, the City adopted <br />regulations for properties within the Critical River Corridor, including a minimum structure <br />setback of 100 feet from the ordinary high water mark. The Bakken's house, which was <br />constructed prior to the Critical River regulations, is approximately 70 feet from the ordinary <br />high water mark and is considered lawful non-conforming. Placement of the new garage in the <br />back yard between the house and river would intensify the encroachment ofthe river setback. <br /> <br />A better alternative is to construct the accessory building in the front yard. The proposed <br />location would still exceed the standard front yard setback for a principal building and would be <br />about forty (40) feet from the closest side property line. This lot is somewhat unique in that it <br />has no public road frontage. In the late sixties, a larger parcel, similar in size to the adjacent <br />properties, was subdivided into two smaller lots, one with road frontage and the other, the subject <br />property, with river frontage. Thus, the proposed accessory building would not be visible from <br /> <br />1 <br />