01-09-2023 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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3838 Cherry Ave Road. Variance Application Request (12/27 JD Edits) Mayor and Council Members, We appreciate the feedback and dialogue that occurred at the Planning Commission meeting on November 21, 2022 and we are eager to share a design that has been amended to reflect that dialogue. The revised plans and request are an update to the response received by the Planning Commission. Since that meeting we have made the following changes to the proposed plans. All additions inside the average lakeside setback that encroached outside of the existing structure have since been removed on the Main Level. We are only seeking additions behind the average lakeshore setback - an addition for a stairwell and to extend the garage towards the street. In response to comments about the second floor additions, we revised the plans to reduce the height of the stair-well addition and chimneys. We have also reduced the size of the second floor and moved the addition away from the lakeside of the property. This mitigates obstructions to the neighbors’ views which we included scaled renderings to illustrate. We believe this design best reflects a proposal that is reasonable given the unique conditions of the existing structure and considerate of its impact to the neighborhood and to Lake Minnetonka. Description of Request: 1. Request of lakeside setback and hardcover. Background/ Current Condition: We are seeking to renovate the existing residential home structure at 3838 Cherry Ave. The original structure was built in the 1970s and is a legally nonconforming structure on the lakeshore setback. The proposed design changes the shape of the structure which triggers a variance request due to the existing location of the structure on the property. We are seeking to preserve this structure and make improvements through a renovation in the design, layout, and maintain the architectural interest of the home. We have been walking past 3838 Cherry Ave since we moved into our current home nearby in 2015. We were drawn to the unique architecture and the location on the lot as well as the fact that it is on a dead-end street which would be perfect for raising our three children. It also happens to be just down the street from several of our children's friends in a neighborhood that we have desired to live in and located in the Mound Westonka School District which we have become engaged in with our children. There is a wonderful front yard space to allow for many activities with our kids as well. We have worked over the past two years (2020 to 2022) to acquire and purchase the home from the previous Owner. The home has not been in full occupancy for the past seven years and has had a lot of unfinished work performed, neglect to structure with maintenance and repairs, and neglect to the landscape of the property leaving it an eye sore for the adjoining neighbors. Most