BZA_ Meeting Minutes - 08-27-2024 CITY OF GOLDEN VALLEY
BZA MEETING MINUTES
Tuesday, August 27, 2024 – 7 p.m. | City Hall Council Chamber
7800 Golden Valley Road Golden Valley, MN 55427
1. CALL TO ORDER
• Chair Nelson called the meeting to order at 7 p.m. & read the Land Acknowledgement
a. Members Present: Nelson, Orenstein, Corrado, Commissioner Sicotte
b. Members Absent: Parkes
c. Student Member, Status: Vacant
d. Staff Members Present: Darren Groth, Assistant Community Development Director
Jacquelyn Kramer, Senior Planner
e. Council Liaison Present: Councilmember Denise La Mere-Anderson
2. AGENDA APPROVAL: Nelson motioned to approve the consent agenda.
Orenstein seconded. Commission voted 4-0 to approve.
3. APPROVE MINUTES: Nelson motioned to approve the minutes from May 28, 2024.
Orenstein seconded. Commission voted 4-0 to approve.
• Chair Nelson gave an overview of the Board of Zoning Appeals process and requirements for
approval, alternatives, and consistency. She further informed all participants that the process is
staff will present the request followed by a Q and A with the board, then the applicant is invited
to speak followed by a Q and A with the board, then the public hearing is opened for the public to
comment, the public hearing is closed after public comments are received, then the board
deliberates and votes on the request. In addition, Chair Nelson informed applicants that if their
request is denied, they can appeal to City Council.
4. STAFF INTRODUCTION
a. Senior Planner Jacquelyn Kramer was introduced to the board.
5. PUBLIC HEARINGS
a. Setback Variances, 1320 Fairlawn Way (PID 3002924420095)
At 7:06 p.m., Kramer started the presentation to share the details and summarize the staff report of
the request. She noted that this is an after-the-fact variance request for two accessory structures in
the front yard that were constructed without permits. The variance would reduce the required front
yard setback from 35 feet to 10 feet to allow the structures in the front yard closer to the lot line
than the principal structure and out of the 10-foot Drainage and Utility (D&U) easement (DUE) along
Wayzata Blvd.
At 7:13 p.m., Chair Nelson opened the fioor to board member questions and asked if Kramer could
pull up the slide with the aerial view of the site showing the locations where accessory structures
CITY OF GOLDEN VALLEY
BZA MEETING MINUTES
Tuesday, August 27, 2024 – 7 p.m. | City Hall Council Chamber
7800 Golden Valley Road Golden Valley, MN 55427
could locate per City Code. Kramer showed the image and circled a small area on the screen in the
southwest corner of the lot.
Chair Nelson then opened the Q&A session to others and the following was the series of questions
asked with the respective staff responses.
• Orenstein: why the structure cannot be located behind the main structure. Kramer: highlighted
the image and explained that this is a corner lot.
• Orenstein: there are corner lots all over. Kramer: yes, but this speciflc location along Wayzata
Blvd makes this site unique.
• Nelson: can you show a picture of which way the home faces. Kramer: pulled up image.
Orenstein: house faces Fairlawn.
• Corrado: what’s the average home size in Golden Valley. Kramer: I don’t have the exact flgures.
• Sicotte: what about following the curved line of the street along Wayzata. Kramer: by deflnition,
house placement determines yards.
• Orenstein if home faced north, then would the buildable area increase. Kramer: yes.
• Groth shared the reason for the variance and asked to focus the Q&A on speciflcs for this case
and not hypotheticals. Kramer restated the request before the board.
• Nelson: lots of corner lots in the city, does this one meet the Glenwood frontage condition for
fences. Groth: yes.
• Nelson: is the fence under consideration for tonight. Kramer: no.
• Corrado: does the variance apply to all structures. Kramer: yes, but still has to meet code.
• Corrado: does this apply to future buildings. Kramer: if it meets other parameters, then yes;
however, if it does not meet other code requirements, then no.
• Nelson: can we grant a variance for a speciflc structure. Groth: yes, if refiected in the motion.
• Corrado: does the tennis court across Fairlawn meet code. Groth: that’s not part of the agenda.
• Sicotte: code appears to allow corner lots to have a side yard. Kramer: yes, but that
consideration in the code is not contained within the section of code for accessory structures,
only primary structures.
At 7:30 p.m., the Applicant, Mitchel Nelson, was invited to speak. He stated that other properties
have structures closer to Wayzata Blvd, as shown on the aerial image from Kramer’s presentation.
Nelson further stated that a shed was there when he bought the home, but he replaced it. Chair
Nelson asked if it was replaced in the same location. Nelson replied yes. Nelson also mentioned
that he reached out to his neighbors, and all were supportive of his requested variance.
As Nelson wrapped his comments, Chair Nelson opened the fioor to Q&A from board members.
• Nelson: you already have to move the structures out of the easement. Nelson: yes, both
structures will be moved out of the DUE.
CITY OF GOLDEN VALLEY
BZA MEETING MINUTES
Tuesday, August 27, 2024 – 7 p.m. | City Hall Council Chamber
7800 Golden Valley Road Golden Valley, MN 55427
• Orenstein: if the sauna has power or water, a building permit is also required. Nelson: no power
or water proposed. Kramer: since the structure is less than 200 sq. ft., a zoning permit is
required.
• Orenstein: so, there’s no electricity. Nelson: no, we ran an extension cord.
• Nelson: any more questions. Corrado: it’s admirable that you reached out to your neighbors.
At 7:38 p.m., Chair Nelson opened the public hearing. Noone was present to speak. Orenstein
mentioned that the board received a form from the applicant and asked if staff had a copy. Kramer
stated that it will be made a part of the record. At 7:40 p.m., Chair Nelson closed the public hearing
and asked board members about their thoughts.
Corrado stated that the request seems to flt the neighborhood, the circumstances of the request
were not clear to him coming in, the presentation provided clarity, and he appreciated that the
applicant did the legwork. Orenstein stated that he had no comments. Sicotte clarifled the intent of
the front and side yard setbacks and noted that since this was a unique property abutting an arterial
street, he was generally supportive. Nelson shared that she was concerned about the request
coming into the meeting but understood the request more clearly now. Nelson also asked if the
board could limit the application of any variance to speciflc structures. Kramer responded yes, by
making that part of the motion. Nelson asked for a motion.
Orenstein made a motion to approve the variance request as written in the staff report with the
condition to limit the variance’s application to only those two structures shown on the submitted
plans. Corrado seconded the motion, as stated. Nelson called f or a vote. The board voted 3 -0-1 to
approve the stated motion with Orenstein abstaining from the vote.
6. COUNCIL UPDATES
At 7:49 p.m., Councilmember La Mere-Anderson provided updates on various City of Golden Valley
happenings, including:
1. Noah Schuchman was hired as the new City Manager.
2. The new Community Development Director starts next week.
3. GIS Day will be November 20.
4. The City’s Building Official and a Building Inspector were granted state delegation for
plan review and inspections of state facilities.
5. Last week at City Council:
a. Approved proclamation declaring September 7, 2024 as “Be the change day”
b. Passed the Zane and Lindsey assessment.
6. Upcoming:
a. Market in the Valley ends on October 13.
b. On September 14, 2024, the Golden Valley Historical Society is hosting the city’s
Golden Jubilee.
CITY OF GOLDEN VALLEY
BZA MEETING MINUTES
Tuesday, August 27, 2024 – 7 p.m. | City Hall Council Chamber
7800 Golden Valley Road Golden Valley, MN 55427
c. On September 18, 2024, the League of Women Voters will host a candidate forum in
the Council Chamber at City Hall.
d. On September 10, 2024, City Council will hold a work session meeting to discuss
the budget and a proposed cannabis ordinance.
7. ADJOURNMENT: Chair Nelson adjourned the meeting at 8:03 p.m.
Approved by:
Attest By: Chair
Jacquelyn Kramer, AICP
Senior Planner