04/21/03 Planning Commission Minutes

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING Monday,April 21,2003 6:00 o'clock p.m. (#9 #03-2887 MINNETONKA CUSTOM HOMES INC., Continued) Chaput continued by noting that the top of the bluff is located 84' from the OHWL at 976.1' in elevation. The bluff impact zone is defined as the land within 20' from the top of the bluff. Within this zone,no structures or accessory facilities (except stairways, landings and lock boxes) are permitted. The lakeside of the proposed house encroaches about 6' into the bluff impact zone where no structures are permitted. As a follow-up to contact made with the DNR, Chaput stated that they would prefer a 20' setback to the bluff and that efforts be made to preserve the vegetation in order to avoid slumping. Hennepin County has indicated that they prefer that a turn-around drive on site instead of requiring a driver to back out onto the County road. Since the proposed home is new construction, Chaput reported that staff can not support the side yard setback variance. Although the applicants are proposing a home of the allowable size for a lot of this area, the lot coverage by structure and side yard setback variances could be eliminated and hardcover in the 75' to 250' setback zone could be further reduced by reducing the size of the proposed home. Staff recommends approval of the following variances, amended from the original application to reflect 10' side setbacks, to permit construction of a new residence on the property: 1. lot area of 0.19 acres (8,172 s.f.) where 43,560 s.f. (1 acre) is required; 2. lot width of 50' where 140' is required; 3. rear yard (street) setback of 19.2' where 30' is required; 4. 480 s.f. (12.6%) hardcover within the 0 to 75' lakeshore setback zone where none is permitted (staff would also support a reduction in deck sizes—see below); 5. 1,957 s.f. (44.7%) hardcover within the 75' to 250' lakeshore setback zone where 1,095 s.f. (25%) is permitted; 6. 15' setback from the top of the bluff where 30' is required; 7. 6' +/- encroachment into the bluff impact zone where none is permitted; and 8. placing fill in a bluff impact zone where no fill is permitted. Chaput continued that approval of the above-listed variances should be conditioned on the following: 1. a permit must be obtained from Hennepin County to change the access to the property; 2. comments from the City Engineer should be incorporated into the proposed plan when received; and 3. comments from the DNR should be incorporated into the proposed plan when received. PAGE 37 of 40