07-21-2025 - Agenda Packet Planning Commission - Full Packet

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Date Application Received: 06/18/2025 Date Application Considered as Complete: 07/01/2025 60-Day Review Period Expires: 08/30/2025 To: Chair Bollis and Planning Commission Members Adam Edwards, City Administrator From: Melanie Curtis, Planner mcc Date: 21 July 2025 Subject: #LA25-000026, Griffin Dooling, 1080 Ferndale Rd West, Variances Public Hearing Background The subject property is located on Ferndale Marsh, which is hydraulically contiguous with Lake Minnetonka, requiring a 75-foot setback from the 929.4’ OHWL contour and a 25-foot setback from the edge of the wetland. According to the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District (MCWD), the edge of the wetland is consistent with the OHWL, based on the 2004 wetland delineation on the neighboring property (1070 Ferndale Rd West) (Exhibit H). The wetland and lake setbacks are therefore measured from the 929.4’ OHWL contour. The applicant requests variances to rebuild the decks with a slightly different, more functional configuration. The existing decks were documented and have since been removed. The existing decks consisted of two circular areas; the new decks are configured with squared-off, rectangular areas in the same general location, and a hot tub is shown abutting the western deck. The existing improvements are located within the 75-foot setback from the OHWL and the 25-foot wetland setback (the existing home also encroaches as it is situated 28 feet from the OHWL). The (pre-) existing eastern deck was located approximately 24 feet from the OHWL and wetland, and the western deck was 43 feet from the OHWL and wetland. As proposed, the east deck is shown at 20 feet and the west deck is shown at 38 feet from the OHWL, resulting in new encroachments for both. In the plan images below, the previously existing deck is shown in red dashed lines. Combined, the existing decks account for 615 square feet of hardcover. The proposed decks, including the hot tub (as shown), will result in 662 square feet of hardcover. As proposed, the hardcover will increase by 47 square feet more than the existing amount within the 75-foot setback. Application Summary: The applicant is requesting a lake setback, average lakeshore setback, wetland setback, and hardcover variances to reconstruct an existing deck in a different configuration. Staff Recommendation: Planning Department Staff recommends approval with conditions (see the staff recommendation on page 5). East Deck West Deck 62