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Date Application Received: 06/17/2025 <br />Date Application Deemed Complete: 06/20/2025 <br />60-Day Review Period Expires: 08/19/2025 <br /> <br />To: Chair Bollis and Planning Commission Members <br /> Adam Edwards, City Administrator <br /> <br />From: Matthew Karney, Planner <br /> <br />Date: 21 July 2025 <br /> <br />Subject: #LA25-00025, Southview Design, 1530 Orchard Beach Place <br />Variances – Public Hearing <br /> <br /> <br />Background <br />The applicant proposes an accessory building, a pool cabana, in the lakeyard of the property. Recently, <br />multiple permits have been issued on the property for the construction of patios, walls, and a pool in <br />conforming locations. Variances are requested to construct the proposed accessory building within <br />the average lakeshore setback (ALS) and roughly 7 feet from the home where a 10-foot separation <br />between buildings is required. There ALS is determined by the measured distance between the home <br />and the lake on the property to the east. Adjacent to the property, on the west, is right-of-way for <br />Orchard Beach Place, which runs north-to-south up to the OHWL of Lake Minnetonka. <br /> <br />The proposed hardcover is within the 25% of lot area as stipulated with Tier 1 of the Stormwater <br />Quality Overlay District, and the hardcover associated with the accessory building is mostly captured <br />by the patio space underneath. The applicant has received an erosion control permit from the <br />Minnehaha Creek Watershed District for proposed work on the property. <br /> <br />Practical Difficulties Analysis <br />Applicant Submittal Information: <br />The applicant has indicated that the property is a uniquely shaped lot, with a shoreline that varies in <br />depth in relation to the existing house. To eliminate impacts on lake views of the adjacent neighbor <br />(4215 North Shore Drive), the accessory building is proposed roughly 115’ feet from the OHWL close <br />to the principal building. Due to the diagonal shoreline there is no conforming building envelope for <br />an accessory building on the property. As proposed the accessory building encroaches on the ALS and <br />does not meet the building separation of 10 feet apart. <br /> <br />Planning Staff Practical Difficulty Analysis: <br />Staff contends there is no practical difficulty for a new accessory building lakeward of the primary <br />residence. The property has use of the land with the principle building on the site. Due to the <br />orientation of the land and the current vegetative screening the protected sightlines imposed by the <br />ALS would be minimally impacted. <br /> <br />However, the primary residence has similar setback to the OHWL that 4215 North Shore Drive <br />(neighbor to the east) which supports the notion the ALS is not imposing a practical difficulty on this <br />property. Area exists on the street side (north) of the residence that would conform to zoning <br />requirements where an accessory building could be located. The proposed location of the accessory <br />building, within the ALS and with limited separation of the residence, appears to provide convenience <br />solely to the property owners. <br />Application Summary: The applicant requests approval of average lakeshore setback and <br />separation between buildings variances to construct an accessory building. <br />Staff Recommendation: Planning Department Staff recommends denial of the variance. <br />38