05-12-87 BZA Minutes � ��
MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING OF THE
GOLDEN VALLEY BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS
May 12, 1987
The regular meeting of the Golden Valley Board of Zoning Appeals was held
Tuesday, May 12, 1987, at 8:00 P.M. in the Gold Room of the Civic Center,
7800 Golden Valley Road, Golden Valley, Minnesota.
The following Board members were present:
Mahlon Swedberg, Chairman
Kevin McAleese
Art Flannagan
Mike Sell
Larry Smith
Chairman Swedberg noted to those in attendance that because of the pool referen-
dum being held in the Council Chambers, the meeting was being held in the Gold
Room. State election laws prohibit official meetings such as the Board of
Zoning Appeals from being held until the polls close at 8:00 P.M. Normal
starting time for the Board is 7:30 P.M.
The first order of business was approval of the minutes of a regular meeting
held April 15, 1987, 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.
87-5-11 (Map 15) Residential
ymout Avenue Nort
Greg & Rebecca Earheart
The Petition is for waiver of Section
3A.06(1) front setback for 21 feet off the required
35 feet to a distance of 14 feet from the front
lot line to the house as it now exists and for
Section
3A.06(3)c side setback for 3 feet off the required side
setback to a distance of 2 feet from the west
lot line to the house as it now exists. The
purpose of the waiver petition is to correct
an existing non-conforming status and provide
for construction of a fully conforming deck at
the rear of the existing home.
The petition was in order. Consent had been obtained from adjacent neighbors.
None were in attendance.
99�
Board of Zoning Appeals
Page 2
May 12, 1987
Mr. Earheart was present and explained his proposal . This is an older home that
existed before the surrounding properties were developed and before street
improvements of Plymouth Avenue. Mr. Earheart has owned the property for three
years and has been upgrading the appearance and maintenance of the house. The
waivers are for the house as it exists so a fully conforming deck at the rear
could be added.
The Board discussed the possibility of not granting the waivers and addressing
the current status of the house under Section 14.02 of the code by allowing the
deck to be added to a non-conforming structure. It was decided that it was
important to provide for clear title if possible rather than leave the home non-
conforming. Kevin McAleese noted the existing detached garage is at 4.7 feet
from the east lot line (5 feet required) and he suggested this be addressed
also.
Art Flannagan suggested that because of the age of the house, the setbacks as
they currently exist were a result of development of the streets and adjacent
property. He moved to approve the waivers as requested to include the garage
as noted. Second by Mike Sell and upon vote carried unanimously.
87-5-12 (Map 19) Residential
Hi sboro Avenue North
David and Linda Graumann
The Petition is for waiver of Section
3A.06(1 ) front setback for 0.9 feet off the required 35 feet
from Hillsboro Avenue to a distance of 34.1 feet to
the house as it now exists and for 11 .5 feet off the�
required 35 feet from Earl Street to a distance of
23.5 feet to the house as it now exists. Purpose
of the waiver petition is to correct an existing
non-conforming status and provide for a fully
conforming garage addition at the rear.
The petition was in order and consent obtained from adjacent properties. Mr.
Graumann was present. Staff liason, Lloyd Becker, explained to the Board that
this property is similar to others in the neighborhood but no record could be
found providing for the current setbacks when the house was built. Mr. Graumann
described his proposed attached garage which if the waivers would not be
approved, he would build it as detached from the house.
Mike Sell asked why it was attached in the location shown on the survey. Mr.
Graumann responded that because of existing sewer and water lines he didn't want
to build over them.
Larry Smith noted this is a corner lot with two 35 foot setbacks required.
The garage as attached conforms and this is really more of an administrative
matter to provide for the existing house as built.
�
� � � � Board of Zoning Appeals
Page 3
May 12, 1987
During further discussion, Mr. Graumann noted his name is David, not Daniel as
shown on the original agenda. At the close of discussion, Larry Smith moved to
approve the waivers as requested. Second by Art Flannagan and upon vote
carried.
87-5-13 (Map 7) Residential
5051 Thotland Road
Thomas & Linda Clements
The Petition is for waiver of Section
3A.06(3)a side setback for 2 feet off the required 15 feet
side setback to a distance of 13 feet from the
west lot line to the proposed garage addition.
The petition was in order. Mr. Clements was present. Consent had been obtained
f rom all adjacent properties. No others were in attendance.
Mr. Clements described the present single-car tuck-under garage. He noted
the addition is the minimum to get two garage stalls. The existing side wall
must be left in place as it is the foundation for the house.
He described his plans for a bedroom and bath to be built above the garage
addition. However, this might not be possible immediately.
Art Flannagan noted his observation on the topography which does not lend itself
to any reasonable detached garage as an alternative. The existing construction
as described limits the proposed addition from being reduced any further. Art
Flannagan moved to approve the waiver for the garage addition as requested,
again noting the topography. Second by Larry Smith and upon vote carried.
87-5-14 (Map 18) Residential
6 0 South Cortlawn Gircle
Darwin and Sandra Wilde
The Petition is for waiver of Section
3A.06(1) front setback for 4 feet off the required 35 feet
setback from the front lot line to a distance of
31 feet to the proposed attached garage addition.
Mr. and Mrs. Wilde were present with their contractor. The petition was in
order and conssent had been obtained from all adjacent properties.
Mrs. Wilde described the present detached garage as deteriorating with wall and
floor problems. The proposed attached garage at 22 foot depth is minimal for
two vehicles. There is an existing bay window which provides the only light to
the west side of the house and this is why the attached garage would be placed
forward of that window.
� oo �
Board of Zoning Appeals
Page 4
May 12, 1987
The Board discussed in detail the characteristics of the existing house. To
rebuild the garage as detached and into the hill at the rear could create
problems similar to the existing garage.
Noting the topography of the lot and the substantial improvement the attached
garage would make to the property, Larry Smith moved approval of the waiver as
requested subject to the existing detached garage being torn down or removed
f rom the property. Second by Kevin McAleese and upon vote carried.
87-5-15 (Map 15) Residential
7601 Olympia Avenue North
Michael and Charlene Plitman
The Petition is for waiver of Section
3A.06(1) front setback for 2 feet off the required
35 feet from Quebec Avenue to a distance
of 33 feet from the front lot line to the
proposed foundation and bay window addition.
Mr. and Mrs. Plitman were present with their contractor. Consent had been
obtained from adjacent properties. No others were in attendance.
Mr. Plitman explained his proposed remodeling which includes a bay window which
projects slightly into the required 35 feet from Quebec Avenue. This is a
corner lot and requires 35 feet from Olympia also. During discussion, Mr.
Plitman noted he had two surveys and the current one shows the house at 36.33
feet from Quebec with 1 .6 foot projection for the window which would require a
waiver of approximately .03 feet. The Board discussed at length the proposed
remodeling which also included some ground level landscape. Mahlon Swedberg
expressed his concern for the screen porch shown on the survey. Mrs. Plitman
said this was only a temporary seasonal screen frame that has a removable roof
and only two sides. The other sides abut the house and an existing retaining
wall . Mr. Plitman reaffirmed to the Board that it is only a temporary screen
structure similar to others used during the summer season.
Art Flannagan moved to approve the waiver as requested to insure the contractor
had adequate room for the foundation and window. Flannagan noted the ground
level landscape did not appear to have a structural nature that required any
waivers. Mike Sell seconded the motion, subject to the building permit being
issued conditioned on the statement by the Plitmans that the screened area that
exists is a temporary seasonal structure and not for future enclosure or per-
manence. Following further discussion on the motion, the chairman called the
vote and it was unanimous for approval .
`i 00 �
Board of Zoning Appeals
Page 5
May 12, 1987
87-5-16 (Map 11) Residential
20 Go den Va ey Road
Mike Hrdlicka
The Petition is for waiver of Section
3A.Ob(31a side setback for 9.8 feet off the required
15 foot side setback to a proposed distance
of 5.2 feet from the west lot line to the
proposed garage addition.
The petition was in order and consent obtained from adjacent properties.
Mr. Hrdlicka was present and described his property and the history of his
existing home. The lot is extremely deep but with the placement of the house in
relation to the topography, it is very ,difficult for any alternatives. Mike
Sell questioned the width when completed. Mr. Hrdlicka described the present
projection of the house area into the existing garage and with the propased
addition there would actually be only 21 feet of interior width for useable
garage. Mr. Hrdlicka noted the substantial distance he would still have from his
adjacent neighbor's garage. Mike Sell moved to approve the waiver as requested
and in doing so noted the present structural characteristics of the existing
house and the shape and topography of the lot. Larry Smith seconded the motion
and upon vote carried.
87-5-17-Administrative Review of 87-4-7
1140 Angelo Drive
Richard Moon
The Chairman reviewed the opinion by the City Attorney which had been requested
by the Board as a condition of approval at the previous meeting held Wednesday,
April 15, 1987. Copies of the opinion had previously been distributed to the
Board with the agenda packet.
The Board discussed the memo in detail and at the close of the discussion, it was
the consensus of the majority of the Board members that the opinion by the City
Attorney adequately addressed the issue of the previous meeting on the waiver
approval of Mr. Moon's petition.
There being no further business to come before the Board, it was upon motion,
second, and vote to adjourn at 9:30 P.M.
� � �
Mahlon Swedberg, Cha' man loyd . Becker, Secretary