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2025-11-25 MIN BZA Regular Meeting MEETING MINUTES 1. Call to Order and Land Acknowledgement • Chair Orenstein called the meeting to order at 7 p.m. and read the Land Acknowledgement. a. Members Present: Tapio, Orenstein, Brookins, Commissioner Cohen b. Member Absent: Corrado c. Staff Members Present: Chloe McGuire, Deputy Community Development Director, Jacquelyn Kramer, Senior Planner, Steven Okey, Associate Planner d. Council Liaison: Absent 2. Consent Agenda 2.a. Approval of Agenda 2.b. Approval of October 28, 2025, Meeting Minutes • Brookins made a motion to approve. • Tapio seconded. • Voted unanimously for approval . 3. Public Hearings 3.a. 5000 Golden Valley Road Applicant: Blanca Sinchi Request: Request for a variance from the City Code Section 113-152 Screening and Outdoor Storage, Subdivision. (c)(1)a to allow a six-foot-high fence in the front yard along Regent Avenue North of a triangular lot. • Kramer presented the staff report. • Applicant Blanca Sinchi spoke: o She thanked the board for hearing her request. She stated that whatever they decide, she will respect. • Orenstein opened the public hearing. • Orenstein asked if there was anyone who wished to speak. • Kramer confirmed no one was online who wished to speak, and they received no comments on the application. • Orenstein closed the public hearing. • Orenstein stated that he thinks the staff analysis is reasonable and all criteria are met. • Cohen asked if there was any discussion regarding chopping off 2 feet from the fence to meet code requirements. • Kramer stated that there is more foot traffic around the house, and most properties like this are allowed the six-foot fence. She noted that the variance request is because something about the property prevents the property owner from doing something that most others can do. November 25, 2025 – 7 pm City Hall: Council Chamber Hybrid Meeting: Teams/Phone City of Golden Valley BZA Meeting Minutes November 25, 2025 – 7 pm 2 • Brookins stated that he is comfortable with the variance and that the fence fits the property well. • Tapio stated that he is in favor and agrees with the staff report. • Orenstein asked for a motion. • Brookins motioned to approve the variance request. • Tapio seconded. • Vote was taken and approved unanimously. 3.b. 255 Louisiana Avenue South Applicant: Nicole Delahanty Request: Request for a variance from the City Code Section 113-88 Single-Family Residential R-1 Zoning District, subsection (f)(1)e to reduce the required setback from the principal structure from ten feet to seven feet to allow a proposed 15-foot by 33-foot in-ground pool. • Kramer presented the staff report. • Orenstein asked for clarification on whether there are any setback violations that would require a variance. • Kramer stated that the pool meets the yard setbacks, but it just does not meet the building setback. • Applicant Nicole Delahanty spoke: o She stated that they bought the house specifically to build a pool. She noted that the plans she received at the time were outdated and did not include the bump-out structure that is causing the issues. She explained that they could put in a smaller pool, but they would not be able to have a diving board, which was a primary goal for the property. She noted that 15 feet by 33 feet is the minimum size for including a diving board. • Orenstein opened the public hearing. • Orenstein asked if there was anyone who wished to speak. • Orenstein closed the public hearing. • Orenstein stated that he does not regard the fact that the property is a corner lot as a unique feature. He stated that there does not seem to be any alternatives provided for this item. He asked if they could make just a diving pool with no shallow end. • Brookins stated that he spoke to Okey regarding a diving pool, and he noted that they truly are at the minimum size they could build. • Tapio asked if the home is set further from the road than usual. • Kramer stated that the home is 35 feet from Louisiana and 30 feet from Colonial. She noted that what makes this lot unique is that the rear setback is very tight. • Brookins stated that originally, he had concerns, but when further looking into it, he noted that he is in support of the request. • Orenstein stated that he is concerned that property owners are not properly looking at the zoning of a house before purchase. He added that he is concerned that they are not noticing that certain builds will not meet code, and instead just ask for variances to rectify these issues. • Matt Burton, on behalf of the property owner, spoke: o He stated that when the property owner purchased the house, she most likely was told by the realtor that a pool would fit great in the backyard without fully City of Golden Valley BZA Meeting Minutes November 25, 2025 – 7 pm 3 understanding the requirements. He noted that they looked into the smaller size of the pool, but since they really wanted the diving board, this is the solution they came up with. • McGuire stated that the question for this variance is whether a property owner is entitled to have a pool. She stated that they allow every property owner in this district to have a pool. • Cohen suggested finding a way to handle some of these items more administratively rather than having the board vote on certain issues. • Orenstein asked for a motion. • Orenstein motioned to approve the variance request. • Cohen seconded • Vote was taken and approved unanimously. 4. Council Liaison Report • None. 5. Staff and Board Member Updates 5.a. Staff Comments • Kramer stated that they will not be meeting next month. • Kramer stated that in January, staff would like to do some annual training to go through the legal review of the Zoning Code. • Kramer stated that staff presented the idea for some small variance requests to be resolved at an administrative level. 6. Adjourn • Chair Orenstein adjourned the meeting at 7:49 p.m.