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CITY OF ORONO <br />RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL <br />NO. <br />A9. In considering this application for variances, the Council has considered the advice and <br />recommendation of the Planning Commission and the effect of the proposed variances <br />upon the health, safety and welfare of the community, existing and anticipated traffic <br />conditions, light and air, danger of fire, risk to the public safety, and the effect on values <br />of property in the surrounding area. <br />VARIANCE ANALYSIS: <br />Bl. According to MN §462.537 Subd. 6(2) variances shall only be permitted when: <br />I. The variance is in harmony with the general intent and purpose of the Ordinance. The <br />ordinance is intended to reduce lake impacts (lake yard and structural coverage) and <br />massing (structural coverage and rear yard setbacks). The proposed two story homes <br />presence will be mitigated by the fact the home is fairly secluded, the primary access is <br />via a dead end gravel driveway (which this house is the second from the end) and the <br />adjacent Crystal Bay Road is separated from the improvements with riparian vegetation <br />and steep slopes. <br />2. The variance is consistent with the comprehensive plan. The variance allows the <br />redevelopment of the single family lot, this improvement is consistent with the <br />comprehensive plan. <br />3. The applicant establishes that there are practical difficulties. <br />a. The property owner proposes to use the property in a reasonable manner not <br />permitted by the official controls; The property owner desires to construct a new <br />2,299 square foot home, replacing a 1,781 square foot home on a lot that has <br />approximately 2,400 square feet of buildable area. The planned expansions <br />outside of this area are not out of character with recent variances in the area, <br />notably for the house to the south. <br />b. There are circumstances unique to the property not created by the landowner; <br />The slope of the lot toward the lake, the location of Crystal Bay Road, and the <br />location of the existing watermain, all influence the buildable area for the lot, <br />none of which was created by the landowner; and <br />c. The variance will not alter the essential character of the locality. Many of the <br />homes in the immediate area require some level of variance to improve the <br />property. The two lots on either side of the subject property have obtained <br />variances over the years. Most recently, the lot to the south received a variance <br />from the lake yard, the average lake, rear yard and lot coverage in 2014. The <br />new home as proposed is 2 story with a ground floor walk out. The home <br />appears to be consistent in scale with the homes on either side, though there are <br />smaller homes in the neighborhood. <br />Page 3 of 6 <br />