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January 20, 2021 <br />The addition of a screen porch will not change the essential character of the neighborhood. <br />As designed and located, the addition creates the least impact to other property owners’ lines of <br />sight. <br />a.The adjacent property owner to the west has a double car garage near the shared <br />property line. The property owner’s home angles toward the west away from the subject <br />property. These two aspects of the west property together with the subject property <br />garage location effectively blocks the west neighbor’s interior and exterior sight lines of <br />the addition. <br />b.The adjacent property owner to the north is the Wayzata Country Club (WCC). A 135 ft <br />deep tree grove mostly on the WWC property creates a significant green screen barrier <br />to the addition. Furthermore, the screen porch finished floor elevation is 978.27. The <br />elevation at the back-property line is 983.0 and 990 before emerging on to WCC’s golf <br />cart path on the other side of tree grove. Therefore, the screen porch finished floor <br />elevation as proposed will be 11.4 feet below the cart path elevation. <br />c.The adjacent property owner to the east has a double car garage near the shared <br />property line. The east property owner’s home angles toward the east away from the <br />subject property. These two aspects of the east property together with the subject <br />property’s tree grove, and elevation change of 7 feet functionally blocks the east <br />neighbor’s interior and exterior sign lines of the addition. <br />d.The single-family home #128 located to the south across Chevy Chase Drive from the <br />subject property does not have any interior window or yard sight lines of the addition. <br />e.The undeveloped lot #132 located to the southeast across from the subject property is <br />owned by the City of Orono as such is not negatively impacted. <br />4.“Economic considerations alone do not constitute practical difficulties if reasonable use for the property <br />exists under the terms of the Zoning Chapter.” <br />It is possible but not economically feasible to: <br />a.move the entire home 12.2’ toward the front setback line, or <br />b.change the angle of the home on the lot to permit the required back yard setback, or <br />c.change the side of the home on which the garage is placed. <br />5.“Practical difficulties include, but are not limited to, inadequate access to direct sunlight for solar energy <br />systems. Variances shall be granted for earth sheltered construction as defined in Minnesota §216C.06, <br />subd. 2, when in harmony with this Chapter.” <br />Not applicable to this application. <br />6.“The Board of Appeals and Adjustments or the Council may not permit as a variance any use that is not <br />allowed under this Chapter for property in the zone where the affected person’s land is located.” <br />The Nelson’s use of the property as a single-family home is consistent with R1-A permitted uses. <br />Page 2 of 8