Letter from Sharratt 2-11-05
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CITY OF CHANHASSEN
RECEIVED
February 11, 2005
Revised: February 25,2005
Revised: May 2,2005
MAY 0 3 2005
CHANHASSEN PLANNING DEPT
RE: 9015 Lake Riley Blvd
Chanhassen MN 55317
PID: 25.0240300
Laura Cooper and Tim Walker are requesting a variance for the lakeside
setback, front yard setback and lot coverage for the above named property. The
lot in question is a legal lot of record that is 2,054 square feet smaller than the
current lot size requirement for this zoning district in the City of Chanhassen.
The existing home on the property is 34 feet from the lakeshore at elevation
864.7 and lot coverage is 26.4%.
The owners are proposing to improve the existing lake setback as well as provide
a small improvement of the lot coverage. To provide a feasible building site for
the new home, they are requesting the front yard setback variance in order to
reduce the lot coverage and encroachment upon the lake. The proposed
lakeside setback is variable, never going closer than the current non-conforming
distance; and further in others to balance the rear of the house. The closest
corner of the house is 48 feet from the lake; the closest corner of the wood deck
is 43 feet. The owners are requesting a lot coverage variance of 1 .3%. This
reduces the current non conforming lot coverage by 0.1 %. Finally, the owners
are requesting a front yard setback variance of 5 feet, from a 30 foot setback at
its closest point, to a 25 foot setback for one small corner of the garage.
The owners respectfully request consideration of the following:
A. The literal enforcement of the zoning requirements provide a building pad
of only 23' in depth, street setback to lake setback; a size that is not only
unreasonable for a home today, but fundamentally out of character with
the neighborhood. In addition, the buildable area results in a trapezoidal
shape exacerbating the difficulty of rectangular geometry for reasonable
cost effective construction. The new design fully utilizes the available
building area, and requests an improvement over the existing non-
conformities. The owners are requesting the variances to make
reasonable use of the property, with a home that is an improvement for
the neighborhood, the city, and the health and wellbeing of the
homeowners.
B. The uniqueness of this lot is that it is significantly smaller than 77% of all
the lots on Lake Riley Blvd; it is only one of six, out of twenty seven, that
are 650 or more square feet less than the required 15,000 square feet. All
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of the other lots this size or smaller are either around the point or at the
end of the point, making the Cooper lot the only lot this significantly
smaller within the first sixteen lots on this street.
C. The owners are putting considerable time and effort into providing a
design that is suited to the neighborhood, their needs, and the current
zoning requirements of the City of Chanhassen. They intend to stay in
this home permanently and are therefore looking at a long term design
solution for every stage of their lives and those of their family and friends,
not an increase in property value.
D. The lot in question was a legal lot of record when purchased by the
owners, with the current non-conforming home on it. The owners have not
created this hardship, as the lot has always been smaller than the majority
of the other lots in the neighborhood.
E. The owners are taking particular care to insure that the new home design
is in keeping with the character of the neighborhood and does not
encroach upon the neighbors. Additionally, they will be taking steps
above and beyond the current requirements for drainage to mitigate the
run off of surface water from their property.
F. The new home will in no way impair an adequate supply of light and air to
adjacent properties or increase any congestion or danger.
On behalf of the owners, we thank you for your time and consideration of this
request.