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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPC Meeting Minutes 01-11-10DRAFT PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES MONDAY, JANUARY 11, 2010 1. Call to Order: Chairman Rin~stad called the January 11, 2010 Planning Commission meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. Those in attendance were Commissioners Fleming, Billington, Howley, Ringstad, and Planner Jeff Matzke. Commissioner Perez was absent. 2. Approval of Minutes: The Minutes from the November 11, 2009, Planning Commission meeting were approved as presented. Commissioner Ringstad read the Pubtic Hearing Statement and opened the meeting. A. EP09-130 Memory Lane Design-Build LLC is requesting a variance from the front yard structure setback for construction of a residential house addition. Planner Jeff Matzke presented a variance request from Memory Lane Design-Build LLC for the property located at 4580 Lords Street NE on Lords Island east of County Road 21. The property is zoned R-1, Low Density Residential and is within the Shoreland District. The property is classified as R-LD - Urban Low Density Residential on the 2030 Comprehensive Land Use Map. Matzke stated that the appticant is proposing a major house remodeling project which will alter the current one story walkout home and make it into a story and 1/2 cottage style home. The current house was built in 1963 and is approximately 2,100 square feet. The applicant has proposed to maintain the existing footprint of the house and rear deck as part of the remodel project. In order to gain a more secure and safe entry into the dwetling, the appticant proposes to add a covered entry over the proposed front entryway. The strict application of the 25 foot front yard setback appears to create a hardship for the property owner to place a reasonable house on the property. The applicant proposes a remodeling of the current home which confines the majority of structural construction to the existing nonconforming setback to the lake. The existing lot of record is narrow and irregularly shaped creating only a 550 square foot buildable area without the need for setback variances from the Zoning Ordinance. In addition, many of the lots along Lords nonconforming front yard setbacks; therefore general character of the nei~hborhood. Street are irregularly shaped with existing the proposed structure will conform to the Staff recommended approval of the requested variance with the conditions listed in the resotution. Chair Ringstad asked if anyone had any questions for staff. There were no further questions. Ringstad asked for a motion to open the Pubtic Hearing. MOTION BY HOWLEY TO OPEN PUBLIC HEARING. SECOIJD BY FLEMING. L:\10 FILES\10 PLANNING COMMISSIOIV~10 MINUTES~MNOI 1110.doc Planning Commission Meeting January 11, 2010 Draft Vote taken indicated ayes by all. MOTION CARRIED. The Public Hearing began at 6:08 p.m. Comments from the public: Richard Voreis, the homeowner, introduced himself and explained that he and his wife had begun the remodeting process in April, 2008 when he hired an architect to look at various options. He wanted to expand the driveway and make the home more expansive but realized that they were stretching the envelope in regard to zonin~. He said that he had put a lot of time and expense into this remodeling project and commented that this was their eighth concept plan. He expressed that he wanted to meet current zoning requirements. He stated that the entryway and overhang would make the entry much safer for them and guests as they entered the home during icy conditions. He and his wife want to remain in this home and have it be their retirement home. Roger Ferguson, 4500 Lords Street, introduced himself as the neighbor immediately to the west of the Voreis property. He supported the Voreis remodeling request and had no problems with it. MOTION BY HOWLEY, SECOND BY FLEMING TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. Vote taken indicates ayes by alt. MOTION CARRIED. The public hearing was closed at 6:10 p.m. Questions from the Commissioners: Fleming asked what the current livable square footage and the proposed square footage of the home was. Planner Matzke answered that the current footprint of the livable square footage is 2,111 sq. ft. The proposed would increase it 2,373 sq. ft. for the dwelling but that figure includes the entryway. Fleming felt that the request was reasonable and would support the proposed variance. Howley felt that strict interpretation of the zonin~ code in this instance was not practical and since none of the neighbors had an issue, he supported the proposed variance with the hardships. Billington questioned whether the neighbors were notified of the variance request. Planner Matzke answered that all neighbors within 350 feet were notified and that there were no comments from any other neighbors. Based on those findings, Billington also supported the variance request. Ringstad asked whether or not the applicant would have to go through the same variance procedure if it was requiring a new construction permit using the initial footprint. Planner Matzke said the applicant would not have to go through a variance procedure as long as they kept it as a remodeling project. He added that if Mr. Voreis were tearing down his house completely and putting up a new house on the same footprint, then he would have to apply for a variance. Ringstad agreed on the hardship of the irregular lot and supported the variance request. L:\10 FILES\10 PLANNING COMMISSiON\10 MINUTESVu1N011110.doc 2 Planning Commission Meeting January 11, 2010 Draft Chair Ringstad entertained a motion and a second. Billington motioned to adopt Resolution 09-06PC approving the following variance subject to the listed conditions, an 8.3 foot variance from the required minimum front yard setback for construction of a residential addition in the R-1 (Low Density Residential) Zoning District. Fteming seconded the motion. Vote taken indicates ayes by all. MOTION PASSED 4-0 Chair Ringstad indicated that the variance application passed tonight and that nothing further would be required by staff. 4. Old Business: None 5. New Business: Planner Matzke announced that there wouldn't be a Planning Commission Meeting on January 25, 2010. However, he said that there has been increased plat activity and most likely there will be at teast one or possibly two meetings in February. 6. Announcements and Correspondence: Planner Matzke introduced Richard Keeney, new councilmember and liaison to the Planning Commission Chair Ringstad congratulated Keeney on his recent election and welcomed him to the Planning Commission. 7. Adjournment: The meeting adjourned at 6:16 p.m. Judy Pint, Engineering Secretary L:\10 FiLES\10 PLANNING COMMISSION\10 MINUTESUAN011110.doc 3