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(612) 337-6100 (612) 339-6591 100 Washington Ave S. 1 Suite 1300 Minneapolis, MN 55401 siegelbrill.com August 27, 2026 Via Email (olannina cni.citvoframsevmn.aov) Members of the Planning Commission City of Ramsey 7550 Sunwood Drive NW Ramsey, MN 55303 Re: Rum River Retreat Project #26-106 Our File No. 32858 Dear Planning Commissioners: SIEGEL BRILL PA ATTORNEYS AT LAW We represent Paul and Stephanie Olson, who own and reside on the 35-acre parcel located at 5750 177th Ave NW. Our clients' property is immediately adjacent and to the west of the parcel on which Sundance Woods, LLC, ("the Applicant") proposes to create 15 lots consisting of 14 new homes and one existing home ("the Project"). In order to proceed with the Project, the Applicant requires two variances from the City of Ramsey. Specifically, the applicant seeks a variance from the maximum cul-de-sac length set forth in the City's subdivision ordinance and a variance from the minimum lot depth requirement found in the City's zoning ordinance. For the reasons outlined below, the requested variances must be denied. As you may be aware, the City's authority to grant variances is governed by statute. As a result, the City may grant a variance only if doing so is consistent with statutory requirements. Here, there are two different statutes at play because the Applicant is seeking variance from two different ordinances. Variances from a requirement of a zoning ordinance are governed by Minn. Stat. § 462.357, whereas Minn. Stat. § 462.358 governs variances from a requirement of a subdivision ordinance. These two statutes impose very different rules for the two types of variance. Variance from the maximum cul-de-sac lenath The Subdivision Ordinance, and specifically Sec.117-614(c)(7), provides that "[t]he maximum length of cul-de-sac streets shall be 600 feet[.]" Neither the project narrative nor the staff report provides the length of the proposed unnamed east -west cul-de-sac that is part of the Project, but from the proposed preliminary plat it appears that that street is over 1,100 feet in length. Section 462.358 authorizes the City to grant variances from the Subdivision Ordinance, but places an important limitation on that power. The relevant subdivision reads as follows: