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01.21.2025 PC MinutesCHANHASSEN PLANNING COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING MINUTES JANUARY 21, 2025 CALL TO ORDER: Chairman Noyes called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. MEMBERS PRESENT: Chairman Eric Noyes, Edward Goff, Steve Jobe, Jeremy Rosengren, Perry Schwartz, Ryan Soller, and Katie Trevena. MEMBERS ABSENT: None. STAFF PRESENT: Rachel Jeske, Planner. PUBLIC PRESENT: Kevin Joyce 9119 Lake Riley Boulevard Joan Joyce 9119 Lake Riley Boulevard Dorian Thompson Thompson Construction, LLC Chairman Noyes stated that there is one public hearing item on tonight’s agenda, which is to consider a variance request for 9119 Lake Riley Boulevard. He commented that public input will be accepted when the Planning Commission opens the public hearing portion of an item and any persons wishing to speak must come up to the podium and state their name and address for the record. He reviewed the rules, noting that the Chair would enforce a maximum of five minutes for each speaker, and if someone has the same input as the previous speaker, th ey can voice their agreement, and the Planning Commission will note the agreement without the need to revisit the same information. He reviewed the format that the Planning Commission will use to review items and reminded the Planning Commissioners to adjust the microphone and speak directly into it so that the remote viewers can hear clearly. He introduced Planner Rachel Jeske to review the variance request for 9119 Lake Riley Boulevard. PUBLIC HEARINGS: 1. CONSIDER A VARIANCE FOR 9119 LAKE RILEY BLVD (PLANNING CASE #24- 21) Rachel Jeske, Planner, thanked the Chair and greeted the Planning Commissioners. She introduced Planning Case #24-21 for 9119 Lake Riley Boulevard. She stated that the applicant is Thompson Construction Company on behalf of the Joyce family, and they are requesting a setback variance in the RSF zoning district. She said that the location is in the RSF zoning district, the land use is low-density residential, and the lot size is 0.34 acres. She reviewed the existing conditions, pointing out the driveway out front and how it comes around the side onto the back and the deck and the bluff that goes down to Lake Riley. She summarized the setback variance for the front extension of the garage. She noted that it was just over two feet of Planning Commission Minutes – January 21, 2025 2 encroachment and that the back part of the driveway was proposed to be removed, and the staircase would be moved to the side to be out of the bluff encroachment. She showed the floor plan and explained the extension of the garage on the right side so the cars would fit. She commented that they are proposing to add two internal doors since the house does not currently have any doors that connect the garage to the inside of the house. Ms. Jeske reviewed the conformance on the lot, noting that the minimum lot area for an RSF zoning district is 15,000 square feet, but for this lot, it would be 14,799 square feet. She explained that the lot was a historic lot combination of some of those tiny lake lots previously used for cabins and that it has a lawful nonconforming status of exceeding the hardcover maximum due to that early age of construction. Ms. Jeske said that the lot meets the standards for lot width and depth, and the front yard setback currently meets the requirement, but they are proposing the approximate two-foot encroachment. She commented that the side setbacks and rear setbacks would be met. Ms. Jeske noted that the bluff setback has the lawful nonconforming status, but with the renovation project, the applicant was proposing to decrease both the driveway and the deck encroachment. Ms. Jeske reviewed the justification for the variance because of the substandard lot size and the unique construction of the home. She explained that how the home is currently constructed, the applicant cannot expand the garage to the back and can only expand it to the front to make room for the extra cars. She reviewed that there was no internal access to the house from the garage which is not ideal for homeowners trying to age in place and do not want to walk around outside just to access their car. She said that the proposal decreases multiple different existing lawful nonconformities, including the bluff setback encroachments, as well as the overall hardcover being decreased from 35.6 percent to 31.9 percent. She said the staff believes that the proposed front yard setback for the expansion of the garage is reasonable and recommends its approval with the conditions listed in the staff report. She asked if there were any questions from the Planning Commission. Commissioner Schwartz asked Ms. Jeske, out of curiosity, how they accomplished the reduction in the hardcover maximum. Ms. Jeske explained that a majority of that hardcover is coming from the elimination of the driveway. She noted an area of the driveway that is proposed to be removed and that it is no longer there in the final image. Commissioner Schwartz asked about access to the garage. Ms. Jeske answered that the main garage is in the front and there is a third stall in the back, which is why that driveway went back there. Commissioner Schwartz voiced understanding. Chairman Noyes asked if there were any other questions for Ms. Jeske. Seeing none, he commented that what they were proposing here makes a lot of sense given the physical limitations of the lot and that it was very apparent that they are trying to not only accomplish interior doors, which is a really big thing, especially with Minnesota winters. He said that removing the hardscape is a good kind of offset to what they are doing and that it looked like a straightforward request logical solution. Planning Commission Minutes – January 21, 2025 3 Commissioner Schwartz commented his agreement. Chairman Noyes opened the public hearing. Chairman Noyes opened the public hearing and invited any comments. Kevin Joyce, 9119 Lake Riley Boulevard, introduced himself, his wife, and his builder. He voiced appreciation for the Planning Commission and asked if there were any questions. Chairman Noyes asked if any of the Planning Commissioners had comments or questions for Mr. Joyce. Seeing none, he closed the public hearing. Chairman Noyes closed the public hearing. Commissioner Jobe moved, Commissioner Rosengren seconded that the Chanhassen Planning Commission, acting as Board of Appeals and Adjustments, approves the requested front yard setback variance for the expansion of a garage at 9119 Lake Riley Boulevard subject to the conditions of approval and adopts the Findings of Fact and Decision. All voted in favor and the motion carried unanimously with a vote of 7 to 0. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: 1. APPROVAL OF PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES DATED JANUARY 7, 2025 Chairman Noyes asked if there were any changes or amendments to the January 7, 2025 meeting minutes and for a motion to approve the minutes. Commissioner Goff moved, Commissioner Jobe seconded to approve the Chanhassen Planning Commission summary minutes dated January 7, 2025 as presented. All voted in favor, and the motion carried unanimously with a vote of 7 to 0. COMMISSION PRESENTATIONS: None. ADMINISTRATIVE PRESENTATIONS: Chairman Noyes asked Ms. Jeske if she had any presentations, administrative or otherwise, for the Planning Commission. Ms. Jeske responded that she had no presentations. Chairman Noyes thanked Ms. Jeske. CORRESPONDENCE DISCUSSION: None. OPEN DISCUSSION: None. Planning Commission Minutes – January 21, 2025 4 ADJOURNMENT: Commissioner Schwartz moved, Commissioner Trevena seconded to adjourn the meeting. All voted in favor and the motion carried unanimously with a vote of 7 to 0. The Planning Commission meeting was adjourned at 6:09 p.m. Submitted by Eric Maass Community Development Director