12-12-95 BZA Minutes
1408
Minutes of a Regular Meeting of the
Golden Valley Board of Zoning Appeals
December 12, 1995 I
The regular meeting of the Golden Valley Board of Zoning Appeals was held Tuesday, December
12, 1995, in the Council Conference Room, City Hall, 7800 Golden Valley Road, Golden Valley,
MN. Chair Mahlon Swedberg called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM.
Those present were: Chair Mahlon Swedberg, Members Paula Pentel, Herb Polachek, Mike
Sell, Robert Shaffer. Also present were Staff Liaison Mark Grimes and Recording Secretary Eve
Lomaistro.
I. Approval of Minutes - November 14, 1995
The minutes were corrected as follows: under III Other Business, the motion was seconded by
Mike Sell. MOVED by Sell, seconded by Polachek, and carried unanimously to approve the
minutes as corrected.
II. The Petitions are:
4216 Poplar Drive (95-12-44)
Robert L. Harvey
Request:
Waiver of Section 11.21, Subd. 7(A) Front Setback -- 6.6 feet off the
required 35 feet to a distance of 28.4 feet (for the existing house and deck
on the south elevation); and
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Waiver of Section 11.21, Subd. 7(C)(3) Side Yard Setback -- .89 feet off
the required 6 feet to a distance of 5.11 feet (for the existing cantilever and
deck on the west side of the house; and
Waiver of Section 11.21, Subd. 7(C)(3) Side Yard Setback -- 9.71 feet off
the required 12 feet to a distance of 2.29 feet for the existing garage.
Purpose:
To make the house and garage legally nonconforming so a conforming
three-season porch can be constructed onto the rear of the house.
Mark Grimes explained the request and the board discussed the petition thoroughly. The
wording was corrected due to the vacated street which added 5 feet to the property. The board
made it clear that it would be necessary to request another variance if the deck were to be
enclosed in the future. Mr. and Mrs. Harvey were present to answer questions.
MOVED by Sell, seconded by Pentel and motion carried unanimously to approve the following
waivers: Section 11.21, Subd. 7(A) and Subd. 7(C)(3) for the west side of the house and for the
east side of the garage.
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Minutes of the Board of Zoning Appeals
December 12, 1995
Page Two
7215 Glenwood Avenue (95-12-45)
David and Carmen Diersen
Request:
Waiver of Section 11.21, Subd. 7(A) Front Setback -- 9.64 feet off the
required 35 feet to a distance of 25.36 feet.
Purpose:
The front setback variance is needed so the applicants can construct a
family room onto the southwest side of the house.
Mark Grimes explained the request and stated that he had seen the property. In his opinion, this
is the best place for an addition and saw no problem with it. The board accepted the survey
done by a professional surveyor. David Diersen was present to answer questions. The board
asked Mr. Diersen why he wanted a variance since the lot is large enough to make a smaller
addition or to use a different configuration. Mr. Diersen replied that the addition is planned to be
next to the kitchen which is the most used room in the house and the extra space will be best
used in this location and that the size of the room is in keeping with the rest of the rooms in the
house. He and his family like the area and feel that the addition will be an enhancement to the
neighborhood. Mark Grimes pointed out that the lot is quite large and able to handle a large
home. The owner stated that no other homes face this part of the house.
MOVED by Pentel, seconded by Polachek and motion carried unanimously to approve the
request for waiver of Section 11.21, Subd. 7(A) for the proposed addition on the southwest side
of the house.
1844 Glenwood Parkway (95-12-46)
Rick Bennett and Kristine M. Distel-Bennett
Request:
Waiver of Section 11.21, Subd. 7(B) Rear Setback -- 25.4 feet off the
required 31.9 feet to a distance of 5.5 feet (for the garage addition of the
south side); and
Waiver of Section 11.21, Subd. 7(C)(3) Side Yard Setback .- 2.45 feet off
the required 9 feet to a distance of 6.55 feet (for the existing house on the
northeast corner); and
Waiver of Section 11.21, Subd. 7(C)(3) Side Yard Setback -- 5 feet off the
required 9 feet to a distance of 4 feet (for the existing shed attached to the
house on the east side); and
Waiver of Section 11.21, Subd. 7(C)(3) Side Yard Setback -- 5.76 feet off
the required 9 feet to a distance of 3.76 feet (for the proposed deck and
house on the southeast side).
1.41.0
Minutes of the Board of Zoning Appeals
December 12, 1995
Page Three
Purpose:
To make the existing house and shed legally nonconforming and to allow
for the construction of a nonconforming upper level. deck and attached
garage onto the south side of the house.
This petition was deferred from the meeting of November 14 due to a change in the plans.
Kristine M. Distel-Bennett was present to answer questions and discuss the request. Neighbor
Thess Smallwood of 1834 Glenwood Parkway was also in attendance and aware of the change.
Mark Grimes explained the request. There are 3 options for the shed, remove it, move it, or
leave it as is. The owner stated that she needs the extra space in the garage for storage;
otherwise she would need to keep the shed for storage. This request would replace the existing
car port with a garage.
The board asked a number of questions of Ms. Distel-Bennett and heard comments from Mr.
Smallwood. After an extended discussion it was agreed by all to change the configuration of the
garage to eliminate the triangular shape. This will eliminate the storage area in the new garage
but the owner can leave the shed where it is.
MOVED by Shaffer, seconded by Polachek and motion carried unanimously to approve the
requested waivers as follows: Section 11.21, Subd. 7(B) and 7(C)(3) for the proposed garage,
and Subd. 7(C)(3) for the house at the northeast corner and the existing shed on the east side of
the house.
III. Other Business
No other business was presented.
IV. Adjournment
Chair Swedberg adjo~med the meeting at 8:05 p~~~
M~ Mark Grimes, Staff Liaison
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