HomeMy WebLinkAbout8196 (Res.)
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FINDINGS OF FACT,
RQUSS,EAU HOUS.E
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RESOLUTION NO. R1Q~
WHEREAS, the Stillwater City Council has approved and
adopted a Riverway Bluffland/Shoreland Ordinance, City Code
Chapter 31.06, consistent with the National Wild and Scenic
Rivers Acts, the federal and state Lower st. Croix Acts, and
Master Plans and Minnesota Rules, parts 6105.0351 to 61.0550; and
WHEREAS, the Minnesota Department of National Resources has
certified the City Riverway Bluffland/Shoreland Ordinance as
complying with the state policies and rules requirements; and
WHEREAS, the City of Stillwater received an application for
an alteration and expansion of an existing substandard structure
including the extension of an existing attached deck located at
120 Lakeside Drive in the Riverway Bluffland/Shoreland District
in the City of Stillwater, the "Rousseau home;" and
WHEREAS, public notice was given and information provided
regarding the application to government agencies, adjacent
property owners and the public as required by the Riverway
Bluffland/Shoreland Ordinance; and
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WHEREAS, the City Council held public hearing on the
application at a regular meeting held on October 17, 1989; and
WHEREAS, at the hearing, the City Council considered the
staff report describing the property and explaining the need for
a determination regarding the conspicuousness of substandard
structures; and
WHEREAS, the City Council reviewed a video tape recording
and 35 mm pictures and other exhibits showing the structure as
viewed from the river; and
WHEREAS, the City Council considered testimony, exhibits and
written correspondence from the applicant, members of the public,
Department of Natural Resources and Minnesota/Wisconsin Boundary
Area Commission; and
WHEREAS, based on a review of the project plans, personal
viewing of the structure from the river by some Councilmembers,
pictures and video tapes showing the project from the river
during summer months, testimony from the public and state and
federal agencies, the City Council of the City of Stillwater
adopted the following:
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FINDINGS OF FACT
1.
home is
the home
That the deck on the riverward side of the Rousseau
attached to the home and therefore an integral part of
structure and is not a separate structure.
2. That the deck is extended parallel to the river and
bluff line at the same or greater setback as the preexisting deck
and is not roofed.
3. That the Rousseau home is located on a small urban lot
in a neighborhood urban setting.
4.
side, the
the river
home.
That houses
north side,
in front of
surround the Rousseau home on the south
and behind the home, and houseboats clutter
and to the north and south of the Rousseau
5. That there are extensive shoreline vegetation and trees
close to the Rousseau home that partially obscure the view from
the river since some of these trees are higher than the Rousseau
home.
6. That the home is of an earthtone color that blends with
the adjacent surroundings and is unobtrusive relative to the
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7. That most people who view the structure from the river
view it from a distant channel located some 2,000 feet away and
that islands covered with dead trees and vegetation partially
obscure views of the Rousseau home from that vantage point.
8. That the background to the Rousseau home and adjacent
residential structures is a tree covered hill much higher than
the homes.
9. That the Rousseau home does not appear much taller than
any adjacent structure and no taller than two-story homes that
are visible from the river but not located in the riverway
district.
10. That viewed from a full range of riverward locations
from far north to far south, views of the Rousseau home are
obscured much of the time by vegetation adjacent to the Rousseau
home or vegetation covering the islands that interrupt the view
of the Rousseau home from the channel.
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11. That the Rousseau home is not readily noticeable when
viewed from the river in the summertime since two adjacent
marinas and large boat docks and docked boats dominate the view
of the neighborhood from the riverway.
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12. That at least twenty-three thousand riverway travelers
in 1989 passed by the Rousseau home on the river and no federal,
state or local government agency received a complaint that the
Rousseau house is noticeable.
13. That other structures in the riverway district that
have received variances are much more visible and noticeable than
the Rousseau home, such as the Dock Cafe and the colored awning
at Popeye's Restaurant.
14. That the Rousseau home is essentially a two-story
structure of the same design and character as most of the
hundreds of other houses located within the City of Stillwater
visible from the riverway.
15. That the testimony at the hearing reflected strong
public sentiment that the Rousseau home and any appurtenant
structures are visually inconspicuous and not noticeable.
CONCLUSIONS
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the alteration,
expansion and extension of the substandard structure as proposed
by the Rousseaus is visually inconspicuous in summer months as
viewed from the river.
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BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the project is consistent with
the City's comprehensive plan, the development pattern of the
area and the general community welfare.
Adopted by the City Council this
1989.
7th
day of November,
w~~rahamson,
Mayor
Attest:
M~J?~'~
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