HomeMy WebLinkAbout7A - 2007 Variance Summary Report
4646 Dakota Street S.E.
Prior Lake, MN 55372-1714
CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
MEETING DATE:
AGENDA#:
PREPARED BY:
AGENDA ITEM:
FEBRUARY 19, 2008
7A
JEFF MATZKE, PLANNER
CONSIDER APPROVAL OF THE 2007 VARIANCE SUMMARY REPORT
DISCUSSION:
Introduction
This report provides the City Council with information regarding the 2007 variance
activity. It is intended to give the Council information that will be useful in evaluating
future variance requests, and in evaluating the need for ordinance revisions.
History
The Planning Commission acts as the Board of Appeals for all variance applications.
In the case of an appeal from a decision of the Planning Commission, the City
Council hears the appeal.
In the year 2007 the City of Prior Lake received 3 variance applications. These
applications included a total of 18 individual variance requests. Of these 18
requests, 16 were approved and 2 requests remain in process by the city. For 2
applications, the decision of the Planning Commission was appealed to the City
Council. The City Council upheld the Planning Commission's decision on one case
and the second case is scheduled to be heard by the Council as a part of this
evening's agenda.
Two of the three total properties which applied for variances were riparian lots within
the shoreland district. The types of requests included variances from setbacks,
impervious surface coverage, lot area, and lot width. Of the 18 requests 12 were
from setback regulations.
Number of Applications 3 6 8 10 12 17
Number of Requests 18 14 17 23 16 40
Requests Approved 16 14 13 14 10 17
Requests Denied 0 0 4 9 5 25
Requests Incomplete 0 0 0 0 1 0
Requests in Process 2 0 0 0 0 0
Requests Withdrawn 0 0 0 0 0 1
PC Decisions Appealed 2 0 2 5 6 7
PC Decisions Overturned 0 0 0 0 2 3
Number Lots in SD 2 4 6 8 8 16
Number of Riparian Lots 2 4 6 6 7 13
Note: If an applicant requested a variance and the Planning Commission approved a reduction of the
original request, then it is represented as one approved request and one denied request in the tables.
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rage 1
Phone 952.447.9800 / Fax 952.447.4245
Table 2 compares the specific types of variance requests in 2007 to the requests for
the five preceding years.
';ii // 11IIII IOO~
Lot Area 1 2 1 3 3
Lot Width (Front) 3 1 1 1
Lot Width (OHW) 1
Front Yard Setback 1 2 4 3 5 4
Rear Yard Setback 1 3 2
Side Yard Setback 4 4 2 1 1
Side Street Side Yard Setback 2
Side Yard Setback for 2 1 1 4
walls> 50'
Eave Encroachment (5') 2
Sum of Side Yard Setback 1 1 1 1 1 1
15' Building Separation 1 1 2 2 2 2
Structure Setback to OHWM 1 5 5
Bluff Setback 2 2
Bluff Impact Zone 1 1
Impervious Surface Coveraqe 1 2 2 1
Buildinq Heiqht 1
Wall Lenqth/Buildinq Heiqht Ratio
Accessory Buildinqs
Driveway Setback 3 1 1 1
Driveway Width 1 3
Maximum Driveway SloDe 1
Road Access Below the RFPE 2 1 1
(907')
Parkina Stalls 2 2
Subdivision of contiguous 1
nonconforminq lots
Incomplele/PendihalWithdrawh yQ (l ...Oi..... Or /1. t
The 2007 variance requests are comparable to requests made in the previous 5
years. The majority of the variances were requested to make improvements in
required front and side yards of existing single family dwellings. The applications
with the largest number of requests were for nonconforming lots.
In 2007, the City adopted the following amendments to the Ordinance text:
1) Section 403. 601 was amended to create consistency between setbacks
for accessory structures, as listed in the Zoning Ordinance, and setbacks
for in-ground swimming pools. The amendment also ensures that
setbacks for in-ground and above-ground swimming pools are consistent.
The above amendment was intended provide clarity of the Zoning Code intention.
This amendment will have no affect on the pending variance request.
The staff has continued to work with applicants to reduce the number of variance
requests by reviewing submitted documents and eliminating requests through plan
redesign when possible.
Current Circumstances
The Planning Commission considered this summary report on February 11,2007.
The Planning Commission concluded that the variances requested were site specific.
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At this time there is no need to amend the Zoning Ordinance to address a recurring
issue.
ISSUES:
The number of applications for variances has trended downward over time. This
suggests, first of all, that the staff's effort in working with permit applicants to identify
design alternatives to the variance process has been effective. The downward trend
of variances also suggests the amendments to the ordinance over time have been
effective in addressing concerns within the ordinance. Since a variance, by
definition, is noncompliance with the ordinance, it is desirable the number of
approved variances be minimized to those situations with a defined hardship.
It is no surprise to City Staff that shoreland properties continue to be the focus of
most variance requests. These are the most highly regulated lots under the
ordinance because of the environmental issues they represent. The lots are also
among the oldest in the City, and many tend to be nonconforming in terms of size
and width. These factors result in making building on these lots more difficult.
ALTERNATIVES:
The City Council has the following alternatives:
1. Approve the variance summary report as part of the consent agenda.
2. Provide the staff with additional direction.
RECOMMENDED A motion and second to approve the variance summary report as part of the consent
MOTION: agenda is required.
Reviewed by:
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