Letter from Applicant date 11-2-18
Richard D. Morris Your Name
3790 Lone Cedar Lane, Chaska, MN 55318
(City of Chanhassen)
651-261-4469 rickdm@uwalumni.com
11/2/2018
Mr. Bob Generous & City Planning Commission
City of Chanhassen
P.O. Box 147
Chanhassen, MN 55317
Dear Mr. Bob Generous & City Planning Commission,
On 9/28/2018, I purchased a home at 3750 Arboretum Blvd within the city limits of
Chanhassen. The City and I have since changed the address to 3790 Lone Cedar Lane to
match the neighbors and facilitate emergency response and postal services.
Two lots of record were included in the sale. There is a 1981 single family home on PID
25700020. There is a vacant lot adjacent with PID 25700010. Both are on Lake
Minnewashta’s south side.
A variance from the 100’ wetland setback is requested from the city to allow the building of
a 26’ x 38.5’ garage accessory building on the vacant lot. I’ve met with Mr. Bob Generous
and Ms. Vanessa Strong regarding the project. Both the City Building Department and
Water resources staff support an accessory building as the optimal usage for this lot versus
the alternative of another single-family home. As an official lot of record, a case could be
made to build a house on this lot as an alternative to the accessory building proposal.
To be a good steward of the lake and water resources, I will consolidate the two lots into one
contingent upon approval of the variance, and thereby permanently remove the potential
for another single-family home. I am requesting vacation of the drainage and utility
easement. Recording of the vacation will occur concurrently with the recording of the
variance and consolidation of the lots.
2
If another single-family home was built, it would result in more impact to the wetland and
lake with another dock, erosion from usage, and riparian owner weed removal rights of
2500 square feet plus a 15’ path to clear water. Another house would also impact a city fire
hydrant, the access road, and a drainage ditch. Lot 1 is zoned for a single-family home and
a hardship of usage exists from the lot shape and lack of buildable space.
Mr. Generous and city staff support waiving the 30’ frontage setback to the proposed 17’
setback to provide more spacing from the lake OHW mark. Instead of the 75’ setback from
the OHW mark, the proposed location is 71.8’ for one corner as shown on the Site Plan. 99%
of the building area satisfies the 75’ lake setback and City Code Section 20-481. The previous
(and currently website ordinance posted) OHW mark was 944.5’, but it was recently
changed to 945.9’.
Your consideration and approval of this variance request for an accessory building with the
condition of lot consolidation is appreciated. As noted above, this plan is supported by
Lake Resources and City Building Dept. staff.
Respectfully submitted,
Rick Morris
Your Name