09-27-2004 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, September 27, 2004 7:00 o'clock p.m. • 5. #04 -3049 WOODHILL COUNTRY CLUB, 200 WOODHILL ROAD — CUP — RESOLUTION NO. 5230 • Sansevere moved, Murphy seconded, to adopt RESOLUTION NO. 5230, a Resolution approving placement of a temporary office module near the tennis barn during major remodeling of the Club's main buildings which are in Wayzata for approximately 9 months. VOTE: Ayes 3, Nays 0, McMillan Abstaining. *6. #04 -3050 MIKE MCCLELLAND, 2170 MINNETONKA AVENUE — VARIANCE — RESOLUTION NO. 5231 Murphy moved, Sansevere seconded, to adopt RESOLUTION NO. 5231, a Resolution granting lot area and lot width variances in order to construct a new single family residence on the property located at 2170 Minnetonka Avenue in the RR -1B, 2 -acre zoning district. VOTE: Ayes 4, Nays 0. *7. #04 -3051 KEVIN AND JULIE FITZPATRICK, 356 WESTLAKE STREET — VARIANCES — RESOLUTION NO. 5232 Gundlach explained that the applicants had requested lot area, lot width, and north and south side yard setback variances in order to construct a new residence on an existing lot. She stated that it would be staff's recommendation to approve the variances as a house has existed on the 50' wide lot since 1957, the applicants are not able to acquire any other land, the lot was legally formed at the time it was platted, and if the 30' side yard setbacks were enforced the lot would have no buildable area. She pointed out that the Planning Commission supported approval of the plans on a 5 -1 vote. A memo presenting the reinforcement of staff's comments was distributed which further clarified staff's support for the lot area /lot width and side setback variance request. In summary the memo stated that the City has neither formally or informally established a policy of denying lot area and width variances in order to force owners of substandard developed lots in single separate ownership to wait to redevelop until they can accumulate additional land. In fact, the Gundlach memo noted that the City has generally granted variances to rebuild on substandard lakeshore lots where hardcover and lot coverage standards could be met. Setback variances have often been granted where proposed setbacks are consistent with those in the existing neighborhood. The memo by Gundlach continued, noting that because a number of substandard lots exist in each of Orono's' /z acre, 1 -acre, and 2 -acre zoning districts (for example, only 1/3 of the existing LR -1B and LR -1C lots were conforming to the respective minimum area requirements in 1983), variances to lot area and lot width have been granted on a regular basis. Any new policy that would delay redevelopment until additional land becomes available, would be a significant departure from past City practices. PAGE 5 of 13