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r <br />#2161 - Easley <br />Page 3 <br />Neighborhood Drainage <br />The City Engineer was again asked to review the neighborhood 'hainage situation in relation to this <br />project. As the neighborhood has redeveloped over the last 10-20 years, the magnitude of hardcover <br />has continued to increase, and storm water problems tend to be exacerbated rather than resolved <br />because there is no comprehensive storm sew er plan, i.e. a lack of curbs, gutters, and catch basins, <br />and no formal storm sewer system but merely some rather informal individual piping to solve <br />individual problems. <br />The grading plan approved for the Applebaums, located immediately west of the applicants’ <br />property, was to direct drainage from his remodeled house and driveway downhill within his <br />property boundaries. However, topographically that is a challenge, and applicants' proposal to <br />establish a wall system extending southw ard from the west side of the garage, would help that to <br />occur and help that drainage move past applicants' house location. The City Engineer has vistited <br />the site and feels this will be acceptable. <br />Garage Height Issue <br />While the proposed garage meets the 30' building height limitation (by definition it is only 23' in <br />height measured from the grade at the high side to the average height of the gable above the vaulted <br />ceiling), the height of the existing house has not been established. Applicants architect has been <br />asked to confirm this height and will have that information prior to the meeting, to verify whether <br />a height variance is required. Zoning Code Section 10.02, Def. 13 defines how building heights are <br />measured and 10.03 Subd. 9(B) disallows an accessory' building from exceeding the height of the <br />principal building. The proposed garage, if attached to a future house as indicated in the concept <br />plan, would result in the need for a height variance of approximately 8 feet. <br />If the need for a height variance is shown, one option is to eliminate the story above the garage... <br />Issues for Discussion <br />1. <br />2. <br />Is the proposed placement of the new detached garage (with possible future attachment) at <br />a distance 24' to 31' from the street, sufficiently justified by hardships and other property <br />constraiius? Moving it closer to the street would reduce hardcover but also reduce the off- <br />street parking potential... <br />Is resolution of a diainage problem and preservation of two mature tree^ sufficient hardship <br />to justify granting a side setback variance to allow the garage to be 3' from the side lot line, <br />with a 2' overhang being just 1' from the lot line? A 5 ’ setback might be more appropriate.