Affidavit of Maria Pieternella Knight 07-21-2015D 1. 1'
of
Maria Pieternella Knight
Maria Pieternella Knight, on oath, deposes and states as follows:
1. I live at 3605 Red Cedar Point Rd., Excelsior MN 55331, directly to the west of the
applicant at 3603 Red Cedar Point Rd.
2. I bought this "adjacent" property in 1974 with my ex-spouse, and I have owned
my residence now for more than 40 years. Consequently, I believe I have a lot of
knowledge about the history of Red Cedar Point, the houses on the Point, and the
owners of the various properties.
3. The previous owners of 3603 Red Cedar Point Rd., Mr. and Mrs. David Prillaman,
had a two car garage under the 3603 Red Cedar Point house, which they entered
from the North side. This two -car garage under the 3603 house was in existence
since at least 1974. I have looked through my family picture albums, and have
located photographs that I took in 1985 showing the garage at 3603 Red Cedar
Point. Rd, with the garage door wide open and with a car in it. I have the originals in
my personal possession for your inspection if you should request it, and I have
attached a reproduction as Exhibit 1. 1 have also attached as Exhibit 2 an
enlargement from this 1985 photo that better show the detail of the open two -car
garage.
4. I have also attached as Exhibit 3 a different photograph that I took in 1985 that
shows a side window in the two -car garage. Exhibit 4 is the same photograph,
enlarged to better show the detail of the garage side window. The Prillamans sold
the property to subsequent owners who also used the two -car garage, but these
owners decided to close it off many years ago. When they expanded their basement
area by closing off 3603 Red Cedar Point Rd's two car garage, these owners used the
same type of stone trim that had been previously used for the outside walls of the
garage and supporting pillars of the garage door. I took the photos that are attached
as Exhibits 5, 6 and 7 this week. You can still see the area where the garage doors
used to be, because there is a clear line in the mortar between the new stones and
the original stones. All of the pictures attached as exhibits hereto are true and
correct representations of the objects depicted.
S. Because there used to be a two -car garage under the 3603 Red Cedar Point Rd.
property and the previous owners elected to trade that amenity for more interior
space, the present owners and applicants for this zoning variance, in my opinion, do
not comply with all of the conditions necessary to obtain a variance. There is no
hardship to this parcel from denying the variance, because the owners voluntarily
gave up their two car garage in return for more interior space.
6. I jacked up my house to put in a basement some 20 years ago and also I believe
that our neighbors at 3607 Red Cedar Point Rd. did the same in order to put a
garage under their house.
Subscribed and sworn before me
This 21st day of July 2015
N tar ublic:
Further your affiant saith naught
AM4 Wk U
Maria P. Knight
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NOTARY PUBUC•MINNESOTA
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