1983 10 11Minutes of the Board of Adjustments and Appeals
October 11, 1983
Members Present
Dale Geving and Willard Johnson
Staff Present
Bob Waibel, City Planner
Public Present
Peter Beck
John Weidt
A.W. (Mike) Mulligan
Joanne Mulligan
Gary Hittle
Robert Sawyer
Bill Heinlein
Carol Dunsmore
Dan Johnson
Max McMullin
Cecil Waller
Monica & Jack Swenson
Ken Landin
Lynn Landin
7900 Xerxes Ave. S., Minneapolis
8591 Tigua Circle, Chanhassen
5716 Glen Ave., Minnetonka
5716 Glen Ave., Minnetonka
4171 Main St., St. Bonifacius
48 Sanford Circle, Chaska
721 West 96th Street, Chaska
730 West 96th Street, Chaska
1140 Pleasant View Road, Chanhassen
16840 S. Shore Lane, Eden Prairie
600 West 94th Street, Chaska
126 Judith Drive, Chaska
720 West 96th Street, Chaska
720 West 96th Street, Chaska
Shoreland Management Setback Variance Request, Lot 5, Block 1,
Rice Marsh Manor, Arthur W. Mulligan, Public Hearing.
Waibel presented the staff report indicating that the request is
for a 70 foot and 22 foot Shoreland Management Ordinary High
Water Mark Setback variance request to the 150 foot ordinary high
water mark setback requirement for Natural Environment Waters.
He stated that for the reasons noted in the analysis section of
the staff report, the proposal appears to be consistent with the
spirit and intent of the Shoreland Management Ordinance and that
any approval of the request should minimally be based upon these
findings in order to avoid setting an unwarranted precedent.
He read into the record a letter received from the property owner
directly to the west (Mr. David Nikolay) stating that he is not
opposed to the proposed variance, however he asked that the
Mulligan's install a driveway culvert across the drainage way
traversing the property and that ongoing maintenance of same
drainageway be conducted.
Peter Beck, representing the applicant, demonstrated on a model
prepared for the proposal, how the plan is to preserve as much of
the natural terrain and vegetation as possible. He noted that
the house would be slab on grade construction and that there will
be no impervious surfaces on the property other than the house
itself. He presented graphics and photos showing how the pro-
posed house location optimally screens and conceals the house
from surrounding properties and from the lake itself.
Minutes of Board of Adjustments and Appeals
October 11, 1983
Page 2
A motion was made by Willard Johnson to close the public hearing,
seconded by Dale Geving, motion carried.
Dale Geving made a motion to recommend the City Council approve
the Shoreland Management Setback Variances of 22 feet for the
northwest corner of the proposed residence and 70 feet for the
northeast corner of the proposed residence as requested in
Planning Case 83-14 Variance with the following conditions:
1. The applicant address the drainage concerns of the the neigh-
bor directly to the west.
2. That the driveway and parking apron for the house be
constructed of pervious surface material.
3. That the applicant make efforts to preserve as much of the
existing vegetation as possible in the construction of the
proposed residence.
Motion seconded by Willard Johnson, all in favor and the motion
carried. The Board stated that the reasons for the recommen-
dation for approval were essentially reasons 1 through 4 as noted
in the Staff Report of October 5, 1983 as well as the deter-
mination that the proposal is consistent with the four findings
for variance approval as contained in the Zoning Ordinance.
Side Yard Setback Variance Request, 731 West 96th Street, Jack
and Monica Swenson, Public Hearing.
Waibel delivered the staff report noting that there does not
appear to be any problems with the proposed variance.
Bill Heinlein stated that he was concerned about the placement of
the home on the lot. The back of the house would be facing his
lot and he feels that this is inconsistent with the rest of the
area. When asked how far his house is from the property line he
indicated that it is approximately 50 feet east of the property
line.
The members of the Board indicated that they cannot dictate how a
house is to be placed on a lot as long as they meet the minimum
setbacks and building code. They noted that the applicant could
move their house closer to the property line by approximately 14
feet and also closer to the street approximately 10 feet.
Monica Swenson indicated that they feel the better soil for the
placement of the home and the yard is to the easterly property
line where the house is proposed to be located. Waibel noted
that the applicant's plan indicates a setback variance of 83
feet, however, the northwestern corner of the proposed house
encroaches approximately 8 feet closer to the side lot line thus
making the setback variance request 25 feet.
Minutes of Board of Adjustments and Appeals
October 11, 1983
Page 3
Dale Geving moved to recommend that the City Council approve the
25 foot side yard setback variance request as found in Planning
Case 83-15 Variance with the condition that the proposed driveway
access have a culvert installed for drainage. Motion seconded by
Willard Johnson, motion carried.
Although the City cannot make a condition for the actual place-
ment of a home, the Board did suggest and recommend that the
applicant attempt to place it in line with the neighboring resi-
dence to the east.