WRITTEN DESCRIPTION OF VARIANCE REQUESTo 612 345 4275
minneapolis, mn 55401
211 north 1st street suite #350
TRAVIS VAN LIERE STUDIO
tvls
December 18, 2020
City of Chanhassen
Community Development Department
Planning Division
7700 Market Blvd
PO Box 147
Chanhassen, MN 55317
RE: WRITTEN DESCRIPTION OF VARIANCE REQUEST
To whom it may concern,
As required by the City of Chanhassen, we are respectfully submitting this written description of
variance requests for the following property:
Bruner Residence
6609 Horseshoe Curve
Chanhassen, MN 55317
Variances Requested
1. Bluff Setback Area Encroachment Variance
2. Replace / Reconfigure Existing Boulder Retaining Wall Variance
Summary of Concern
The existing home on this property was built in 1999 and recently remodeled in 2017 by Christian
Dean Architecture. The landscape was not considered at that time, so the current project is
looking to finalize landscaping on the property while considering client needs while respectfully
meeting existing codes and standards.
This house non-conforming due to encroachment into bluff setback, hence variance for certain
items are needed. Please see the written justification of variance request for further information.
Our design team met with the city planning office several times throughout the process of this
project. Below is a summary of our previous meetings and their outcomes:
1
o 612 345 4275
minneapolis, mn 55401
211 north 1st street suite #350
TRAVIS VAN LIERE STUDIO
tvls
July 16, 2020
• Meeting Contact: MacKenzie Walters
The primary landscape elements discussed at this meeting included:
- Proposed storage water-oriented accessory structure location and requirements
- Proposed walk-out terrace
- Proposed lakeside staircase connecting walk-out terrace to lakeside deck
- Proposed erosion control system to improve and replace failing boulder retaining wall
- Proposed low maintenance grasses to naturalize and cover full property ground cover
- Proposed new driveway access to property entry
November 20, 2020
• Meeting Contact: Erik Henricksen
The primary landscape elements discussed at this meeting included:
- Omitted proposed storage water-oriented accessory structure
- Modified material of proposed walk-out terrace from precast concrete to porous wood
decking material
- Modified material of proposed lakeside staircase from precast concrete to porous
wood decking material
- Simplified grading of proposed lakeside staircase from heavy grading to grading as
needed
- Proposed lakeside deck
- Fits within the footprint of existing concrete patio
- Maintains alignment with the rest of the plan layout
- Porous wood decking
- Proposed erosion control system to replace failing boulder retaining wall (unchanged
from last review)
- Proposed low maintenance grasses to naturalize and cover full property ground cover
(unchanged from last review)
- Proposed new driveway access to property entry (unchanged from last review)
2
o 612 345 4275
minneapolis, mn 55401
211 north 1st street suite #350
TRAVIS VAN LIERE STUDIO
tvls
Conclusion
Our design team and the clients have continued to work with the city and other governing agencies
to develop a plan that maintains the spirit and works in concert with the applicable city codes and
ordinances while providing practical use for the property by the owners.
Thank you in advance for your due consideration of our request for a variance.
Sincerely,
Travis Van Liere, PLA, ASLA
Principal - Travis Van Liere Studio
3