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01-14-92 BZA Minutes I I I 1223 MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING OF THE GOLDEN VALLEY BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS January 14, 1992 The regular meeting of the Golden Valley Board of Zoning Appeals was held Tuesday, January 14, 1992, at 7:30 P.M. in the City Council Chambers, City Hall, 7800 Golden Valley Road, Golden Valley, Minnesota. The following Board members were present: Chairman, Mahlon Swedberg Mike Sell Larry Smith Linda McCracken-Hunt Herb-Polachek, alternate The first order of business was approval of the minutes of a regular meeting held December 10, 1991, copies of which had previously been distributed to the Board. Larry Smith moved to approve the minutes as written and pre- sented. Second by Mike Sell and upon vote carried. 92-1-1 (Map 12) Light Industrial 6005 Golden Valley Road Brechet & Richter, Inc. The petition is for waiver of Section: 11.35 Subd. 7 A front setback, for 15 feet off the required 35 feet of landscape along Golden Valley Road to a distance of 20 feet as it now exists at its closest point, and for Section 11.35 Subd. 9 height, for 15 feet over the maximum height allowed of 45 feet to a height of 60 feet to the top of an enclosed equipment area located at the southwest corner of the building, and for waiver of Section 11.35 Subd. 6 parking, for 51 parking spaces off the required 113 spaces to a total of 62 spaces. Purpose of the waivers is to correct certain non-conforming areas and to provide for a con- forming addition at the west end of the existing structure. The petition was in order and consent obtained from all adjacent properties. Secretary, Lloyd Becker, noted that one of the adjacent properties is Hidden Village Townhouses and that City notice went to the President of the Homeowners' Association, and to all 61 individual owners of record. jL~~49ard of Zoning Appeals Page 2 January 14, 1992 Present for the meeting was Mr. Thomas Moore, President of Brechet-Richter Company and Messrs. Al Peterson and Richard Erickson of the firm Setter, Leach & Lindstrom Architects and Engineers. One unidentified owner from Hidden Village Townhomes was also present and stated he was not present to object but to listen and obtain further information. I Mr. Moore described his purchase of the company some years past, the business history of the company and the products and manufacturing processes within the building. The business has expanded rapidly in the last few years and they are now at manufacturing capacity. They would like to remain in Golden Valley because of the strategic location and the business climate. As the business would expand over the next 10 to 15 years, a distribution center would most likely be constructed in another area; however, the manufacturing would remain in Golden Valley. Mr. Al Peterson reviewed the plans and ren- derings with the Board. This building was constructed in the early 1960's and was one of the first in the Industrial Park. The present parking area and setback along Golden Valley Road are as they were when the building was built. The plan is to not increase parking in that area but to bring the parking lot up to current standards of curb and gutter and also landscape. The waiver along Golden Valley Road is required because some of the existing landscape setback does not meet the current required 35 feet. Secretary, Lloyd Becker, noted he had checked with the City Engineering Department and it is possible some of the Brechet-Richter property was aquired for Golden Valley Road right-of-way; however, files available could not confirm this. Mr. Peterson said the loading docks on Lindsay Avenue would be removed and the area landscaped to meet the required 35 feet. Only a service door to provide for small parcel-type delivery would be on the Lindsay Street side. Mr. Moore said the present mechanical equipment on the roof that was used for processing purposes is no longer operational and would be removed. This equipment is approximately 60 feet in height and all exposed. The new mechanical processing equipment would be in an entirely enclosed portion of the structure as part of the proposed addition on the west side adjacent to the railroad tracks. I Mr. Dick Erickson presented a large to scale rendering of the entire building and the proposed addition. The enclosed area for the new equip- ment is a minor part of the expansion. The elevation to the highest por- tion was taken from Golden Valley Road and the difference in the height where the variance is required is minimal. Chairman Swedberg noted the substantial parking variance on the agenda. Mr. Peterson said the parking is as it existed when the building was built but additional parking will be added on the south and west side of the lot and also several spaces along Zane Avenue. Mr. Peterson reviewed a site plan which showed if the building was vacated by the present tenants, the loading area on the south side could be converted to parking and still include the required three loading docks for the size of the building. I I I I 1.225 Board of Zoning Appeals Page 3 January 14, 1992 This parking plan would exceed by one space the required spaces to meet the Zoning Code. Mr. Moore said they have a total of 36 employees, 12 of whom are manufacturing. They can provide 62 spaces with their present plan and all 133 spaces under Phase II. Mike Sell said he could see no problem with the existing landscape distance along Golden Valley Road or with the parking at this time. Linda McCracken Hunt suggested the Building Board of Review give special attention to the landscape area along Golden Valley Road. Mr. Moore said he would cooperate fully with the Board of Review. At the close of discussion, Mike Sell moved to approve the waivers as requested, noting the substantial improvement to the site overall, the establishment of the 35 feet of landscape along Zane Avenue and the enclosure of the manufacturing equipment within the new addition. Second by Herb Polachek. Chair Swedberg asked for discussion on the motion. Linda McCracken Hunt noted this property is a corner lot with two 35 foot required landscape areas which impacts the property substantially. Chairman Swedberg asked the property owner from Hidden Village if he had any comment or questions and he replied, none. The vote was called and it was unanimous for approval. 92-1-2 (Map 8) Residential 340 Westwood Drive North Bruce and Carla Adams The petition is for waiver of Section: 11.21 Subd. 7 (A) front setback, for 12.9 feet off the required 35 feet from Westwood Drive to a proposed distance of 22.09 feet to the garage addition at its closest point, and for Section 11.21 Subd 7 C (1) side setback, for .02 feet off the required 15 foot side setback to a distance of 14.98 feet to the house as it now exists from the west lot line. The petition was in order. Consent obtained from all adjacent properties. Paul and Carla Adams were present. No others were in attendance for this pet it ion. Chairman Swedberg asked if there was any additional staff information. Secretary, Lloyd Becker, reviewed his agenda memo regarding this property. The original building permit was issued April 25, 1952. The survey sub- mitted at that time showed a footprint of a home that met the required front and side setbacks. No as-built surveys were required at that time. A recent survey done for this petition shows the house placed at a slight angle on the lot and also a two (2) foot offset toward the front on the existing garage and the house 14.9 feet from the south lot line only at the front southwest corner. 1226 Board of Zoning Appeals Page 4 January 14, 1992 I Carla Adams described the present garage conditions as 20 feet in width and depth. A fireplace for the dining room extends two feet into the south side of the garage and also a stairway into the house from the garage extends about three feet from the back and side of the garage. The com- bination of the two severely restricts the interior useable space. The proposed addition would provide for more useable space for parking and storage and also provide for a different stairway configuration. The interior stairway at the back of the garage would require about four feet. Chairman Swedberg asked "why a 10 foot addition is proposed and didn't they discuss with the Building Inspector, Gary Johnson, the possibility of adding to the side rather than the front"? Bruce Adams said they had discussed this with their contractor and because of the topography it would require substantial footings and concrete walls. It also would appear to impact the house just around the corner. Linda McCracken-Hunt asked what the interior depth would be after providing four feet for the new stairway. The response was about 26 feet, which would provide some storage space. Carla Adams noted there still is the existing fireplace that limits use of one side of the garage. The Board reviewed and discussed the architectural plans in detail. It was noted that a substantial remodeling of the interior of the home is also part of the proposed project. Linda McCracken-Hunt suggested the possibility of reducing the proposed depth of the garage and after discussion, the Adams said they were amiable to doing so; however, any substantial reduction would make the project not worth the cost. I At the close of discussion, Mike Sell moved to grant a waiver of 10.9 feet off the required 35 feet from the front lot line to a distance of 24.09 feet to the proposed garage addition. In doing so, Sell noted the unusual lot configuration, the placement of the house on the lot due to topography and the extreme topography at the rear with a drop of about 20 feet for approximately 50 percent of the lot. Second by Herb Polachek, who also noted the unusual juncture of Beverly Avenue and Westwood Drive at this corner. Mike Sell also said his motion is to include the present side setback of 14.9 feet. Polachek concurred. Chairman Swedberg called the vote and it was unanimous for approval. There being no further business to come before the Board, it was upon motion, second, and vote to adjourn at 9:10 P.M. }tt~d!(4A4f Mahlon Swedberg, ~irman I