08-12-86 BZA Minutes 7 � /�
MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING OF THE �
GOLDEN VALLEY BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS
August 12, 1986
The regular meeting of the Golden Valley Board of Zoning Appeals was held
Tuesday, August 12, 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:
Larry Smith
Art Flannagan
Mahlon Swedberg
Herb Polachek, Alternate
Absent by prior arrangement, Chairman Mike Sell and Margaret Leppik.
Larry Smith as immediate past chairman, called the meeting to order
promptly at 7:30 P.M.
The first order of business was approval of the minutes of a regular meeting
held July 8, 1986, copies of which had previously been distributed to the
Board.
Mahlon Swedberg moved to approv� the minutes as written and presented. Second
by Art Flannagan, and upon vote carried.
86-8-2� (Map 20) Residential
r a rive
Douglas & Kathleen Cervenka
The Petition is for waiver of Section
3A.06(3) b side setback, for 5.6 feet off the
required 14.2 feet from the north lot
line to a distance of 8.6 feet to the
. proposed garage addition at its
closest point.
Mr. and Mrs. Cervenka were present. The petition was in order and consent
obtained from all adjacent properties. Mr. Cervenka explained in detail
their proposed attached garage addition. Presently, they have a single
car detached garage which would be torn down. They would add to the north
side of the house an attached garage 24 feet in width and 26 feet in depth.
The front of the garage would have an entry door in addition to the garage door.
There is a screen porch addition proposed`at'the rear of the house and this
fully conforms. The existing house is 63 feet back from the street at its
farthest point and the Cervenka's feel their addition would provide much needed
garage and storage space as well as enhancing the present house and the immediate
neighborhood.
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9
August 12, 1986
Mahlon Swedberg expressed his concern for the proposed 24 foot width and the
service door in front. Mahlon suggested reducing the width to 21 or 22 feet,
noting this would reduce the side setback variance. During further discussion,
it became apparent that the existing side entry to the house and the steps would
still be required in the garage to maintain entry into the house. The service
door would provide access to that entry without raising the entire garage door
each time. Mahlon Swedberg said this information changes his previous concerns
to the 24 foot width as the steps protruding in the garage area reduce useable
width for vehicles to 21 feet in the interior. �
Noting the above and the large setback from Orkla Drive as the house now exists
and also the removal of the existing gar�ge structure which is now non-
conforming, Mahlon Swedberg moved to approve the waiver as requested. Second
by Herb Polachek and upon vote carried.
86-8-23 (Map 8� Residential
427 North Westwood Drive
Michal & Micha Garber
The Petition is for waiver of Section
3A.06(3) b side setback for 2.2 feet off the required
13.9 feet from the north lot line to a distance
of 11 .17 feet to the proposed garage addition
at its closest point.
The petition was in order and consent obtained from all adjacent properties.
Mr. Garber explained his proposed addition.
The present home is located approximately 43 feet back from Westwood Drive.
The present side setback from the northwest lot line is 11 .72 feet. This
setback was provided for by waiver when the house was built in 1958. The
existing house is not exactly parallel to this lot line and the proposed addi-
tion extending the house forward brings the closest corner of the addition 6
inches into the previously approved setback. Mr. Garber explained the interior
remodeling that would be done. There is also a small addition to the rear
corner of the existing home and that meets all setbacks.
Art Flannagan said this really_is_ a minor extension to a previous waiver
and all other areas comply. Flannagan noted the angle of the side lot line and
the placement of the existing home to that line which is a minor extension and
moved to approve the waiver as r�quested. Second by Herb Polchek and upon vote
carried.
86-8-24 (Map 5) Residential
4505 Heathbrooke Circle
Ivan L. Brodsky
The Petition is for waiver of Section
3A.06(1) front setback for 8.5 feet off the required
35 feet from Major Drive to a distance of
26.4 feet to the proposed addition from
Major Drive.
Major Drive.
Board of Zoning Appeals � `� �
Page 3
August 12, 1986
The petition was in order. Dr. Brodsky was present and submitted an additional
signature of consent from an adjacent neighbor who had been on vacation.
Dr. Brodsky described in detail his proposed addition of 10 feet toward Major
Drive and an addition to the rear of his home that fully conforms. This is a
corner lot that requires a 35 foot setback on two sides. The other homes adja-
cent face Major Drive. This home faces Heathbrook Circle and the garage side
where the addition is proposed faces Major Drive. Dr. Brodsky said there is a
drainage way along the south side of his property that must be maintained
because in rain conditions the water from adjacent properties above drains down
to Major Drive.
Mahlon Swedberg said he was bothered by the waiver requested because this area
and home appear fairly new and evidently were built to conform to the Zoning
Code requirements very familiar to what now exist. Approval of this waiver
could establish a precedent for others in the area. Dr. Brodsky responded the
area and his home are approximately 20 years old and while the codes are simi-
lar, he described again conditions he feels are unique to his property, the
corner setback requirements, drainage, and also the alignment of the houses
to the south varies with the street. The proposed addition does not appear
to him to have a significant impact. The adjacent neighbor to the south who
it appears may be most affected, approves of this proposal rather than
building to the rear which would impact them substantially.
The Board continued a lengthy review and possible alternatives. The architec-
tural considerations and interior uses were also reviewed. Dr. Brodsky noted
his desire to remain in this area and he would not propose anything that would
detract from the appearance of the neighborhood nor the openess of the neighbor-
hood.
Acting Chairman Larry Smith closed the discussion and called for the question on
the proposed waiver.
Art Flannagan moved to approve the waiver as requested, noting the requirement
for two 35 foot setbacks on this corner lot, the drainage to the south which
must be maintained and the lack of any other reasonable alternatives because of
the conditions noted. Second by Herb Polachek and upon vote 3 ayes for approval
and one nay (Swedberg). Motion for approval carried.
There being no further business to come before the Board, it was upon motion,
second, and vote to adjourn at 9:00 P.M.
Larry Smiti , hairman Pro Tem oyd G. Becker, ecretary