Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution 2022-127 Slabaugh VarianceCity of Corcoran County of Hennepin state of Minnesota RESOLUTION NO. 2022-127 Motion By: Bofitema Seconded By: Nichols October 21, 2022 A RESOLUTION APPROVING A VARIANCE FOR A COVERED PORCH TO ENCROACH WITHIN THE SIDE AND FRONT YARD SETBACKS AT 9925 EBERT ROAD (PID 10-119-23-21-0014) (CITY FILE NO. 22-054) WHEREAS, Gideon and Hea allow a covered porch to enc described as follows: See AttachmentA ther Slabaugh ("the applicants") request approval of a variance to roach within the required front and side yard setbacks on property WHEREAS, the Planning Commission reviewed the variance request at a duly called public meeting and recommends approval of the variance, and; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Corcoran City Council approves the request for a variance subject to the following findings and conditions: 1. The applicant requested a variance for a covered porch to encroach up fio 35 ft. of the front yard setback along Ebert Rd and up to 1.6 ft. of the side yard setback along the northern property line as shown on the application materials received by the City on August 16, 2022. 2. The City Council finds the standards are met for the variance as requested, based on the following findings: a. There are practical difficulties in complying with the Zoning Ordinance. Upgrading and expanding the previous legal, nonconforming wooden decks to a wraparound, covered porch is reasonable. The proposed porch will result in a slightly larger setback from Ebert Rd, and the setback from the side property line will align with the northern fagade of the house. A covered wraparound porch is a reasonable use of residential property as well as a reasonable strategy to increase the usable living space of a house footprint constrained by the structure's legal, nonconforming setbacks. The proposed wraparound porch is designed to have a similar impact as the previous wooden decks by remaining open on the sides. It appears the request is primarily motivated in the applicants' desire to upgrade their home and living space and is not primarily based on economic considerations. b. The conditions upon which the variance is requested are unique to the parcel and are not caused by the landowner. The placement of the house in relation to the lot lines far predates the setbacks required in the Zoning Ordinance. The existing landowners did not create the nonconformities that limit their ability to reasonably expand their livable space. Due to the unique design and placement of the house, a covered wraparound porch is the most aesthetically pleasing option to add usable space to the applicants' relatively small house with a footprint of 576 square feet. The applicants did not choose the original location of Page 1 of 4 City of Corcoran County of Hennepin State of Minnesota October 27, 2022 RESOLUTION NO, 2022-127 the house and rebuilt the house as -is after a fi e c. Granting the variance will not alter fihe essential character of the locality. The proposed porch would not be out of scale, out of place, or otherwise inconsistent with the surrounding neighborhood. There is minimal traffic on Ebert Rd, so few are likely to be impacted by or notice an expansion of the nonconforming porch. The proposed porch is expected to improve the aesthetic of the house from Ebert Rd. Inviting front porches and wraparound porches are consistent with characteristics of rural architecture desirable throughout the City. The character of the immediate surroundings of the property can be argued to include nonconforming structures that long predate the Zoning Ordinance as the other residential home served by Ebert Rd was built in 1900 and also has nonconforming setbacks from the front and side property lines. There are no nearby buildings on the property to the east across Ebert Rd. Therefore, a reasonable expansion of the nonconforming porch as requested by the applicants is unlikely to impact the essential character of the area. Further, the proposed porch is unlikely to impact the essential character of the locale because the applicants intend to locate the porch 2' further away from the front property line along Ebert Rd as compared to the original footprint of the front wooden deck. Lastly, the house's location in the far northeast corner of the property means the house is minimally visible from Oakdale Dr, which accommodates far more traffic than Ebert Rd. The proposed expansion will result in minimal alterations to the open green space provided by the property along Oakdale Dr. d. The variance is in harmony with the general purposes and intent of the Ordinance. The expanded porch is open on the sides which will generally preserve the existing sight lines of the original house, and visibility in the immediate area is unlikely to be reduced. The expanded porch will be placed 2 fto further from the property line along Ebert Road, which is an improvement to the site's overall compliance with the Ordinance. The recorded drainage and utility easements are not impacted by the location of the expanded porch. The view corridor along Oakdale Dr will be maintained if the variance for an expanded porch is granted. The variance is in harmony with the Zoning Ordinance's general purpose to conserve the natural, scenic beauty, rural character, and attractiveness of the Corcoran countryside. e. The variance to allow the covered porch is consistent with the Comprehensive Plan. Wraparound porches are a known feafiure of rural architecture, so granting the variance will be consistent with the Comprehensive Plan's vision statement, which stresses the importance of protecting the rural environment and character of Corcoran. The Rural/Ag Residential land use designation is partially defined by natural areas. The applicants' request to expand the porch will minimize the impact to natural areas as the expansion is closely tied to the existing footprint of Page 2 of 4 City of Corcoran County of Hennepin State of Minnesota RESOLUTION NO. 2022-127 O ctob er 2 7, 2022 the original structure and is concentrated within the northeast corner of the property. Most of the site will remain in a natural state. The additional 2 ft. setback from Ebert Rd will provide increased open green space in the front yard, which is consistent with a guiding principle of the Comprehensive Plan. 3. The approving resolution must be filed at Hennepin County prior to release of the applicant's escrow account with the City. VOTING AYE E McKee, Tom ® Bottema, Jon ® Nichols, Jeremy ❑ Schultz, Alan ® Vehrenkamp, Dean VOTING NAY ❑ McKee, Tom ❑ Bottema, Jon ❑ Nichols, Jeremy ❑ Schultz, Alan, Jeremy ❑ Vehrenkamp, Dean Whereupon, said Resolution is hereby declared adopted on this 27�" day of October 2022. ATTEST': J�sica Beise —City Administrator Tom McKee =Mayor Cify Seal Page 3 of 4 City of Corcoran County of Hennepin State of Minnesota RESOLUTION NO. 2022-127 ATTACHMENT A October 27, 2o22 LEGAL DESCRIPTION PER WARRANTY DEED, DATED May 22, 2018. (DOC NO. A10556082): Lot Two (2), Block One (1), Ebert Addition, Hennepin County, Minnesota. Page 4 of 4