04-17-2017 Planning Commission Packet

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PC Exhibit B #17-3918 tvls PROJECT: FERNDALE RESIDENCE LOCATION: 1095 Ferndale Road Orono, MN 55391 DATE: April 06,2017 PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The Ferndale Road Residence project proposes to build a new single-family,2 story home and detached accessory garage on the existing lakeshore lot located at 1095 Ferndale Road in Orono, Minnesota. The home is for Mr. Bill Toles and his family who currently live nearby in Minnetonka, MN. The lot is zoned LR1A and is part of the Lakeside Residential District.The current lot is non-conforming in both lot size and required lake frontage. In its current state,the lakeside lot is vacant and undeveloped. Previously, a small single family residence existed on the property that was in disrepair.This home was demolished. In 2012,a new single family home was approved to be built on the property but was never built. The lot is unique in that the finished grade for the parcel is very low and close to the lake—with an average grade of 931',compared with the Ordinary High Water Mark of 929.4'and a 100 Year Flood Elevation of 931.5. The high flood elevation precludes any home having a basement,given the requirement that any finished floor structure be a minimum of 2'above the 100 Year Flood Elevation. Due to the existence of the lagoon and wetland areas directly to the west and north of the property,the lot is susceptible to seasonal flooding from Lake Minnetonka both at the lakeshore and in the northwest corner.These areas are designated as Special Flood Hazard Areas according to FEMA's Flood Insurance Map updated in November of 2016. Because these existing flood plain volumes for the lake must be maintained within the property,the new residence must be properly elevated above the 100-year floodplain. During the design process we determined that the new home location should take advantage of highest existing buildable area,which is in the southern third of the property closest to the lake,and that the northwest half of the property should be reserved for maintaining and mitigating the required floodplain surface volumes for the lot. This determination has necessitated our variance request for exceeding the existing 75'and average lake shore set back limits for the property. During the design process,we have focused extensive efforts on balancing the competing desires of minimizing the mass of the home,the foot print of the structure,and the hardcover on the lot. The program that is typically in the basement of a home of this type has had to be accommodated into the first and second floors of the home. The client also requires that the new home be designed to meet ADA standards due to current health issues. The project scope includes a new two-story home and a detached accessory garage structure,along with a new driveway,autocourt,and lakeside terrace.The proposed landscape improvements include over 100 new trees, 3,690 square feet of new garden,and 34,000 square feet of newly restored meadow that will include native grasses and wildflowers and help to filter, mitigate and manage the stormwater on the property. Most the new proposed trees will be planted as along the north,west,and east property lines. If approved,the proposed home and landscape will complement and add to the character of the City of Orono's lakeside residential district. The property owner,architectural team,and contractors are committed to highest quality design and construction standards.The requested variances are not opposing to the spirit and intent of the Zoning Code. If granted,the variances will allow for the construction of a new home that is in keeping with the spirit of the code. Although this property is non-conforming and challenging,the client and design