HomeMy WebLinkAboutBoard of Adjustments and Appeals - 09/09/1997 APPROVED MINUTES
BOARD OF ADJUSTMENTS AND APPEALS
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9, 1997 7:30 P.M. CITY CENTER
COUNCIL CHAMBERS
8080 MITCHELL ROAD
BOARD OF APPEALS MEMBERS: Chair Kathy Nelson, Cliff Dunham,
Delavan Dye, William Ford, Louis
Giglio, Matthew Hansen, Michael
O'Leary
STAFF LIAISON: Steve Durham, Zoning Administrator
Elinda Bahley, Recording Secretary
MEMBERS ABSENT: None
CALL TO ORDER
Chair Nelson called the meeting to order at 7 : 30 p.m.
ROLL CALL
All members were present.
I. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
MOTION: Dye moved, seconded by Dunham, to approve the
agenda as published. Motion carried 7-0.
II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - September 11, 1997
MOTION: Dye moved, seconded by Giglio, to approve the
minutes of the September 11, 1997 Board of Adjustments
and Appeals meeting as published. Motion carried 7-0.
III. VARIANCES
A. Request #97-15 by Doug and Nancy Heltne for
property located at 6941 Beach Road, Eden Prairie:
1. To permit the construction of a single family
home 79 , from the Ordinary High Water Level of
Bryant Lake. (City Code requires a shoreland
setback from the Ordinary High Water Level of
100' . )
BOARD OF ADJUSTMENTS AND
APPEALS MINUTES
October 9 , 1997
this point.
Durham reviewed the staff report and noted the
property is located in the Cove Addition and is
zoned R1-22 . Most of the homes in the Cove were
constructed in the 1960 ' s prior to the City' s
Shoreland Code regulations. Letters have been sent
to the DNR notifying them of the variances
requested and there was no reply. However, there
are concerns from the neighbors to the south.
Staff discussed alternatives with the applicants
architect prior to coming to the Board about
placing the house in different positions to lessen
the variance or design the house to completely meet
Code. The applicant preferred coming to the Board.
Hansen asked what the distance is to the lake from
the existing home. Durham said the existing home
is 86 feet from the Ordinary High Water Level but
the deck on the existing house was 74 feet from the
Ordinary High Water Level. The distance from the
lake to the proposed home is 79 feet including the
deck.
The public hearing was opened.
Mrs. Molde, residing at 6961 Beach Road, noted they
live in the house to the south in lot #18 . She
said they will be glad to have new neighbors
because the house has been vacant for a while. The
plans look beautiful but her concern is with the
variances. She was concerned that the variance
would impact their views of the lake from the north
side of the house. Each foot that is granted in
the variance towards the lake will impact their
view to the lake on that side. They did not oppose
them going closer to the street because it does not
impact them. It would not impact anyone because
there' s a large pond there. They would prefer the
setback to be kept at 100 feet and go closer to the
road in the front.
Carolyn Bjelland, 6881 Beach Road, noted they live
three doors down from the home to be built. She
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BOARD OF ADJUSTMENTS AND
APPEALS MINUTES
October 9 , 1997
Nelson commented the deck is sticking out quite a
bit beyond where the house sticks out. She said
there is a large space to the north and they could
put a sizable deck there which would still face the
lake and be accessible from the current door by
just going straight across . This would also
minimize the variance going out toward the lake.
Atkinson said they did consider this but they
prefer the deck off the family room rather than
wrapping around the house.
Nelson stated a two car garage would take them from
79 feet back to 91 feet and with the deck out
eight less feet, they would only need a one foot
variance. Also, by cutting the bedroom back a foot
it would be 100 feet out from the shore without
significantly changing the house plans.
Dunham commented it ' s a tough building site based
• on the topography of the buildable area especially
with the placement of the home which compounds the
issue. He was comfortable with the 90 foot lake
side versus the 79 feet and there would be no
visual obstruction to anybody.
Ford agreed with Dunham and noted moving the house
to the north, eliminating the third garage and have
90 feet away from the lake is fine.
Giglio was comfortable moving the house closer to
the street. He suggested shaving only three feet
off the deck and getting the house 94 feet away
from the lake. He would like to see a six foot
variance instead of a 10 foot variance.
Hansen said he would not be able to support
anything that would put a proposed house closer to
the lake. He supported moving the house back a
couple of feet to an L-shape staying away from the
lake and only asking for one variance in the front.
He noted it ' s more valuable in the rear than the
front.
O'Leary was in favor of having the house moved more
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BOARD OF ADJUSTMENTS AND
APPEALS MINUTES
October 9 , 1997
setback of 101 .
Gina Seeling, 6895 Jeremy court, reviewed their
variance request for a bathroom renovation for
their existing home. They proposed to bump out the
existing wall to give them more space to allow them
to include a sauna in the master bath which would
be for health purposes. They have spoken with
their neighbors and there were no objections . Paul
Seeling presented photographs depicting the views
to the neighbors .
Dunham asked if the house is a two story house.
Durham said it ' s a slit level with a split entry,
so it ' s a story and a half.
Hansen asked if there was a drainage swale between
the two homes and if it ' s going to be effected at
all . Mr. Seeling said there is drainage but it
will not be effected. It pretty much runs down the
fence line.
Hansen asked if they looked at any other options .
Mr. Seeling explained the other options they looked
at and why they were not feasible. They considered
expanding out the back of the home but the plumbing
facilities are located at the center of the home.
Nelson asked what would be under this area. Mrs .
Seeling said it would be a storage room for
firewood or bicycles.. This area will be accessible
from the outside and not from the inside.
Durham reviewed the staff report. Notices were
sent to the neighbors and staff received no letters
or comments .
The public hearing was opened.
The public hearing was closed.
MOTION: Dye moved, seconded by O'Leary, to approve
Variance Request #97-16 and the hardship is this
was the only logical place to extend the bathroom
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