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06-10-86 BZA Minutes � � � MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING OF THE GOLDEN VALLEY BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS June 10, 1986 The regular meeting of the Golden Valley Board of Zoning Appeals was held Tuesday, June 10, 1986, at 7:30 P.M. in the Council Chambers of the Civic Center, 7800 Golden Valley Road, Golden Valley, Minnesota. The following Board members were present: Chairman, Mike Sell Mahlon Swedberg Art Flannagan Margaret Leppik Larry Smith The first order of business was approval of the minutes of a regular meeting held May 13, 1986, copies of which had previously been distributed to the Board. Art Flannagan moved to approve the minutes as written and presented. Second by Larry Smith and upon vote carried. 86-6-14 (Map 22) Residential 8909 Wally Street Gary and Kathrine Williams The Petition is for waiver of Section 3A.06(1) front setback, for 0.5 feet off the required 35 feet from Wally Street to a distance of 34.5 feet to the house as it now exists, and for waiver of Section 3A.06(3b) side setback for 4.7 feet off the required 11 .5 feet to a distance of 6.8 feet from the east lot line to the garage addition at its closest point. Mr. and Mrs. Williams were present. The petition was in order. Consent had been obtained from all adjacent properties. Mr. Williams explained his proposal . The lot is 77 feet wide. The present garage is very narrow, single-car attached at the southeast corner of the house. The eight foot wide addition is the minimum size possible to accomodate a car. Mahlon Swedberg asked the age of the existing house and garage. Mr. Williams replied it was built in the early 1950's. he purchased the home last October, 1985. Paaed2of Zoning Appeals 9 4 9 � June 10, 1986 Art Flannagan questioned the roof line and how the addition would attach. Mr. Williams replied the roof line would continue to match the existing. Art Flannagan noted the topography to the rear and the placement of the existing garage. The addition is the minimum to accomodate two vehicles and it would be a definite improvement to the house and upgrade to the neighborhood. Noting the above, Art Flannagan moved to approve the waiver as requested. Second by Mahlon Swedbery. He commented that this is an older home and when built a single-car garage was acceptable and common practice. This is a narrow lot and the proposed addition is the minimum practical . Upon vote, the motion to approve the waiver as requested for the garage addition and for the house as it now exists carried unanimously. 86-6-15 (Map 17) Residential 6940 Western Avenue North Edward M. & Ilene J. Engle The Petition is for waiver of Section 3A.06(3A) side setback for 9 feet off the required 15 feet side setback to a distance of 6 feet from the east lot line to the pro- posed garage addition at its closest point. Mr. Engle was present for the meeting. Chairman Sell noted only two signatures on the petition. Mr. Engle said he was unaware it required those properties across the street. His is a corner lot. Secretary Lloyd Becker said those pro- perties all received notice from the City as required. Mr. Enyle described his home as being built in 1969 and they purchased the house approximately seven years ago. He described the house as a split-level with no actual basement other than the area presently used as garage space for two vehicles. If approved, the existing garage area would be used as basement for storage, etc. , and the addition would provide for a two-car garage at ground level and entered directly from the street (present garage is entered from the side) . The upper level would provide for several additional rooms to the living area. Mr. Engle said his is a corner lot and he felt there was no other area to expand. Margaret Leppik questioned the size of the existing garage. Mr. Engle described it as 20 x 22 feet. Mahlon Swedberg said he has difficulty finding a reason to grant a variance as proposed. He noted the present home was built under zoning code requirements similar to what now exist and this home is typical of others built on corner lots that comply with the zoning code. Swedberg noted a denial for a waiver on a proposed new house on a similar corner lot in the area. Mahlon said the City can't solve every structural charac- teristic or lot constraint by variance. Mr. Engle said he is employed in Golden Valley, his children are in school here and he feels they need the additional space. � � � Board of Zoning Appeals Page 3 June 10, 1986 Art Flannagan suggested Mr. Enyle explore other alternatives that may consider use of some of the existing lower garage area and reduce or eliminate a need for the waiver. Mr. Engle noted this as very costly and it would limit the available new area above. � Larry Smith said that the present house built under ordinances similar to what now exist has the same constraints on a corner lot that recent newer homes have been required to meet and approval of a waiver of this size could provide an argument for granting a waiver to subsequent newer homes in the area with simi- lar conditions. Subsequent discussion between Mr. Engle and the Board resulted in a consensus by the Board that alternatives could be explored and if necessary Mr. Engle should look at obtaining the service of an architect and get further drawings which could possibly eliminate or substantially reduce the need for waiver. Mike Sell said he would be willing to lay this matter over to the next meeting to provide Mr. Engle time to explore other alternatives and provide plans. The Board concurred and Mr. Engle agreed to do so. Art Flannagan moved to defer this request to the next regular meeting. Second by Mike Sell and upon vote carried. Before leaving, Mr. Engle questioned what might be acceptable at this next meeting. Margaret Leppik said to start with the assumption of no waiver being needed. Chairman Sell said it wouldn't be appropriate to speculate before Mr. Engle explored alternatives. There being no further business to come before the Board, it was upon motion, second, and vote to adjourn at 8:40 P.M. ��, �-,L��.J Mike Sell , Chairman oyd G. Beck r, Secreta y