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r- <br />EXrtiftir B <br />lo; Orono CHy Planning Commission <br />Prom Scoii ft Kara llullon <br />1835 Shadywood Road <br />Orono MN5S39I <br />952.471.9549 <br />Re: Rofucst for Hardship Variance to mir Hardcover exposure <br />We wished lo apply for a variance to our hardcover exposure fhis was brought lo <br />our atleniion when we received nolificalion that we were in violation of the city <br />wlinance building code, when we had a shed moved to our property. And although <br />Inis has nm been the most limely icsponae and inquiry we do wish lo be good <br />cili/ens of Ihc city of Orono <br />Kara and I have been blessed with a little giri however the road lo child rearing docs <br />posseM ils hills and valleys. Kara was on bed rest for 2 months and now with Alana ’s <br />amval ^ has colic. This has been the reason for our tardiness with this request; <br />please do not perceive this as a lack ofdcsire lo address this compliance issue. <br />Our desire to remodel our home and enhance the livability and value started when we <br />explored our options to inciea.se our single car garage into a 2 cat garage We had <br />purchased tlic properly in 1992 and decided that nnancially wc cimld accept the <br />additional cost associated with tlie remodeling project <br />Wc at first had hoped to have a 2 car detached garage m front ol our home it would <br />allow us to have iiKrcased our square footage in tlic home add a bedroom, remove <br />our driveway, and have additional storage in our garage I his was our initial request <br />to city planning and wc were told that we would not be able to build a detached <br />^rage in from of the house. Our primary reason that wc preferred this scenario was <br />that It accomplished several other goals. <br />Address the elevation issue. When we purchased the property, we underestimated Uic <br />issues regarding our properly elevation and slope. During winter melting and <br />summer showers wc had water entering into the front of our garage and into our <br />living area in the basement. This was not disclosed in our purcliase agreement but <br />liad to have been noticed. <br />Crate a rnorc natural landscape Since our house is set back much farther from the <br />road, we would eliminate the need for a long driveway It would also allow us to <br />landscape, with wild flowers gardens. <br />Sound Damping. The garage would also act as a sound barrier to the traffic on <br />Shadywood Road. Perhaps had we known; we may have reouested a variance to the <br />gilding code, but that is history. I might add though many citixns are unaware of <br />how to properly approach local governments regarding issues of this matter, this <br />includes myself <br />^r .scenarioi^ our current design of our home. A modified rambler with a <br />2 car tuck under garage. This scenario was much more costly and did not address all <br />of our storage issues. However we believe it to be aesthetically pleasing and very <br />; , ■: . • <br />; < J *•. y