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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-09-23 CPC MIN�v�ter. THE EIATKI LACE Of MINNES014 PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES September 23, 2020 REGULAR MEETING 7:00 P.M. Chairman Lauer called the meeting to order via Zoom at 7:00 p.m. Present: Chairman Lauer, Commissioners Dybvig, Hansen, Meyhoff, Steinwall, Councilmember Collins Absent: Commissioner Kocon Staff: City Planner Wittman APPROVAL OF MINUTES Possible approval of minutes of August 26, 2020 regular meeting Motion by Commissioner Meyhoff, seconded by Commissioner Hansen, to approve the minutes of the August 26, 2020 meeting. Motion passed 5-0-1 with Commissioner Dybvig abstaining. OPEN FORUM There were no public comments. CONSENT AGENDA There were no items on the Consent Agenda. PUBLIC HEARINGS Case No. 2020-14: Consideration of a Conditional Use Permit and Variances related to building a ara re with living space above it on the property located at 816 William St IV in the RB District. Brent from Image Contracting, applicant and Sarah McFarland, property owner. City Planner Wittman explained the application. Sarah McFarland is planning to construct a 20' X 40' detached garage in the northwest portion of her lot, which will be accessed from Elm Street West. This garage is proposed to have an equally sized dwelling unit above it. In order for accessory structures to contain habitable area, they must be constructed as Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), allowed in RB —Two Family residential zoning by Special Use Permit. The existing 340 square foot attached garage has not been proposed to be altered. A 200 square foot shed is proposed to be removed. This case was denied by the Planning Commission in April 2020 because the accessory dwelling was proposed to be in the front yard, beyond the front line of the house. This would have been in contrast to the character of the existing neighborhood. Additionally, it was hard to prove a hardship since there was another, more compatible location. This more compatible location is now the general location that is being proposed. The applicant is requesting: 1) a Special Use Permit to construct an Accessory Dwelling Unit above a new garage; 2) a 192 square foot variance to allow for the total ground coverage of the accessory buildings (1140 square foot) to exceed the ground coverage of the principal building (948 square foot); 3) a 3 foot variance to allow the height of the accessory dwelling unit (22') to exceed that of the primary residence (approx. 19'); 4) a 10' variance to allow the garage to be set back 20' from the exterior side yard lot line and 8' behind the exterior side line of the house, whereas the required setback is 30' from the property line or at least 10' behind the house; and 5) a 140 square foot variance to allow the maximum lot coverage of all Planning Commission September 23, 2020 accessory buildings including attached and detached private garages and other accessory buildings (1140 square foot) to be greater than 1,000 square feet. Staff recommends approval with eight conditions. Commissioner Dybvig acknowledged he lives within the notification area for this application. He offered to recuse himself if the applicants would like. Sarah and Jim McFarland, applicants, said they are comfortable with Commissioner Dybvig participating in the discussion and vote. Commissioner Dybvig noted in the staff report it states the application was denied in April. However it was actually tabled for further review. Councilmember Collins agreed and expressed appreciation for the applicants revising the plans. Chairman Lauer opened the public hearing. There were no public comments. The public hearing was closed. Motion by Councilmember Collins, seconded by Commissioner Hansen, to approve Case No. 2020-14, Conditional Use Permit and Variances related to building a garage with living space above it, on the property located at 816 William St N with the eight conditions recommended by staff. All in favor. Case No. 2020-38: Consideration of a Variance to maximum accessory structure size on the property located at 6 River Heights Dr, in the RA district. William Samuelson, property owner. Ms. Wittman stated that Bill Samuelson is proposing to build a I V X 18' (198 square foot) shed in the southwest corner of his property. Two variances were previously granted for a pool and a two - car garage addition but these were never constructed. Mr. Samuelson is favorable to the Commission rescinding those two variances as part of this application. He is requesting a 78 square foot variance to exceed the maximum size allowed. Staff recommends approval with four conditions. Commissioner Hansen asked why the 200 square foot allowance in the building code is different than in zoning code. Ms. Wittman explained that until staff started seeing requests, there wasn't a need to change code. Looking at code amendments regarding accessory structures is rising toward the top of the Planning Department's large to-do list. Chairman Lauer opened the public hearing. There were no public comments. Chairman Lauer closed the public hearing. Motion by Commissioner Hansen, seconded by Chairman Lauer, to approve Case No. 2020-38, Variance to maximum accessory structure size on the property located at 6 River Heights Dr, with four staff -recommended conditions, adding Condition #5 rescinding the prior variances for the pool and garage addition. All in favor. Case No. 2020-39: Consideration of a Special Use Permit and associated Variances for an Accessory Dwelling Unit attached to a_new garage on the property located at 1124 5th Street South, in the RB district. Miles Winslow, property owner. Ms. Wittman stated that Miles Winslow would like to construct a 504 square foot garage with an attached 294 square foot, lower level Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU). He is requesting a Special Use Permit to convert the existing garage's first level into an Accessory Dwelling Unit, requiring a 110 square foot variance for the accessory structure footprint to exceed the primary residence's footprint area. Staff recommends approval with five conditions. Chairman Lauer opened and closed the public hearing. There were no public comments. Page 2 of 4 Planning Commission September 23, 2020 Motion by Chairman Lauer, seconded by Councilmember Collins, to approve Case No. 2020-39, Special Use Permit and associated Variances for an Accessory Dwelling Unit with associated Variances attached to a new garage on the property located at 1124 5th Street South, with the five staff - recommended conditions. All in favor. Case No. 2020-41: Consideration of a Variance to the front yard setback for a new covered front ent stoop on the property located at 301 Willow Street East, in the RA district. John and Katie Schoenecker, property owners. Ms. Wittman reviewed the case. In July 2020, John and Katie Schoenecker received a building permit to reconstruct an existing front stoop and add a 3' overhang to the front of their home. When demolition of the stoop commenced, the property owners discovered footings/foundation for a stoop that was 9.5' wide and 6' deep. They now wish to construct a new front stoop with roof overhang of those dimensions and are requesting a 17' variance to the 20' Front Yard setback for the construction of a concrete stoop and overhang. Staff recommends approval of the variance with four conditions. John Schoenecker, applicant, said the variance would permit more security and safety in the front of their home. Chairman Lauer opened the public hearing. John Colburn, 224 Willow Street E, voiced support for the application. Chairman Lauer closed the public hearing. Motion by Commissioner Dybvig, seconded by Commissioner Hansen, to approve Case No. 2020-41, Variance to the front yard setback for a new covered front entry stoop on the property located at 301 Willow Street East with the four conditions recommended by staff. All in favor. Case No. 2020-42: Consideration of a Variance to the maximum allowed structural coverage on the ]2roperty located at 820 Maple Street West in the RB district. Sarah Imhoff a licant• and John Holdorph, property owner. Ms. Wittman reviewed the case. John Holdorph is proposing to add a 63 square foot addition to the first floor of his house, exceeding the 25% maximum structural coverage by 21 square feet to 25.4%. Staff recommends approval with five conditions. John Holdorph, property owner, said the addition will give him more space on the ground level making the house more functional. Sarah Imhoff, applicant, 514 St. Croix Avenue West, said she did the drawings for Mr. Holdorph. Chairman Lauer opened the public hearing. There were no public comments. Chairman Lauer closed the public hearing. Motion by Commissioner Dybvig, seconded by Commissioner Hansen, to approve Case No. 2020-42, Variance to the maximum allowed structural coverage on the property located at 820 Maple Street West, with the five staff -recommended conditions. All in favor. Case No. 2020-43: Consideration of a Variance to the maximum lot coverage to build a four -season porch on the property located at 1410 Surrey Lane, in the RA district. Jennifer Quinn, property owner: and Noel Malloy applicant. Councilmember Collins said he was noticed on this application due to the location and he is willing to recuse himself if anyone would like him to do so. No one requested this. Ms. Wittman explained that Jennifer and John Quinn would like to add a 300 square foot four - season porch to the rear of the structure to replace an existing, deteriorating deck. The result is an Page 3 of 4 Planning Commission September 23, 2020 increase in 50 square feet of total lot coverage. The applicant is requesting a variance to allow for 33.8% maximum lot coverage opposed to the 30% maximum allowed. Staff recommends approval with four conditions. Jennifer Quinn, applicant, explained the need for the deck. Chairman Lauer opened the public hearing. There were no public comments. Chairman Lauer closed the public hearing. Commissioner Dybvig said the request is reasonable. He noted that the Commission has previously discussed whether to consider decks as pervious surface knowing that they often get upgraded to be four season porches. He suggested the Commission start counting decks as impervious surface. Motion by Commissioner Meyhoff, seconded by Commissioner Dybvig, to approve Case No. 2020-43, Variance to the maximum lot coverage to build a four -season on the property located at 1410 Surrey Lane with the four conditions recommended by staff. All in favor. Case No. 2020-44: Consideration of a Variance to the maximum accessory structure size on the property located at 8325 Marylane Ave N, in the RB district. Joel Lieffring, property owner. Ms. Wittman explained that Joel Lieffring would like to construct a 168 square foot shed, however the maximum allowed accessory structure size (once there is already a garage) is 120 square feet. He is requesting a variance to exceed the maximum size by 48 square feet. Staff recommends approval with four conditions. Chairman Lauer opened the public hearing. There were no public comments. Chairman Lauer closed the public hearing. Motion by Commissioner Dybvig, seconded by Chairman Lauer, to approve Case No. 2020-44, Variance to the maximum accessory structure size on the property located at 8325 Marylane Ave N with the four conditions recommended by staff. All in favor. UNFINISHED BUSINESS There was no unfinished business. NEW BUSINESS There was no new business. FYI STAFF UPDATES There were no staff updates. ADJOURNMENT Motion by Commissioner Hansen, seconded by Commissioner off, to journ the meeting at 8:07 p.m. All in favor. 'is, is La er, Chair ATTEST: h4w__ Abbi Wittman, City Planner Page 4 of 4