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09-29-97 BZA Minutes 1569 . Minutes of a Special Meeting of the Golden Valley Board of Zoning Appeals September 29,1997 A special meeting of the Golden Valley Board of Zoning Appeals was held Monday, September 29,1997, in the Golden Valley City Hall Council Chambers, 7800 Golden Valley Road, Golden Valley, MN. Chair Robert Shaffer called the meeting to order at 7pm. Those present were: Chair Robert Shaffer; Members Polachek and Sell; and Planning Commission Representative Richard Groger; absent was Swedberg. Also present were Staff Liaison Mark Grimes and Recording Secretary Eve Lomaistro. I. The Petition: 7151 Madison Avenue West (Map 14) (97-9-40) (Former address of property -7155 Madison Avenue West) Henneoin County Prooerty Services . Request: Waiver of Section 11.46, Subd. 8 Yard Requirements -- 33 feet off the required 50 feet to a distance of 17 feet, from the south property line, for the proposed building; and Waiver of Section 11.46, Subd. 8 Yard Requirements -- 20 feet off the required 25 feet to a distance of 5 feet, from the south property line, for the lack of greenspace due to the proposed parking lot; and Waiver of Section 11.46, Subd. 8 Yard Requirements -- 6.13 feet off the required 50 feet to a distance of 43.87 feet, to the east property line, for the proposed building; and Waiver of Section 11.46, Subd. 8 Yard Requirements -- 20 feet off the required 25 feet to a distance of 5 feet, from the east property line for the lack of greenspace due to the proposed parking lot. Waiver of Section 11.70, Subd. 7(F) - 2 feet off the required 20 foot length parking stalls to 18 foot parking stalls. Purpose: To allow for the construction of a new building on the site. Richard Strong, Hennepin County Project Manager and Michael Jordan, principal architect . for Hennepin County, were in attendance. . Minutes of the Board of Zoning Appeals September 29, 1997 Page 2 1570 The applicant appeared before the Board on September 23, 1997, requesting five variances. The Board unanimously voted to hold a special meeting. The Board requested that Hennepin County try to redesign the building to eliminate the requested 5 foot variance on Nevada Avenue. . Mr. Strong reviewed a new site plan that puts the building 35 feet from Nevada as requested. He said that the building remains the same size. Mr. Jordan came forward and explained to the Board that in order to shift the proposed building to the east by 5 feet the 3 foot sidewalk on the east side of the building was removed and the length of the parking spaces from shortened to 18 feet from the required 20 feet. Planning Commission Representative Groger asked if that leaves only a curb and driveway on the east side and Strong answered yes. Grimes stated that there was no actual need for a sidewalk along the east side of the building. Member Sell stated that there is a building on Laurel without a sidewalk and there hasn't been a problem, so this would not set a precedent. Grimes agreed that there are those situations but sidewalks are preferable. He noted that if this proposal were for retail or office space it would be important to have a Sidewalk.. Groger asked if Hennepin County had any concern about not having a sidewalk, such as cars hitting the building or dealing with snow removal and Strong answered no. Jordan added that there are pipes adjacent to the garage door that will protect it. Chair Shaffer asked if visitors are familiar with the site and Strong answered that visitor parking is in the front. Grimes asked if the number of visitors is controlled and Strong answered that visitors are allowed only by appointment and only one visitor is allowed at a time. Strong added that inmates are there for only seven days so there is little opportunity for visitors. He also commented that, in the past, families have visited rarely so the attorneys are usually the only visitors. Sell asked if there would be a handicapped van parked on site all the time and Jordan answered no, that the handicapped parking space is a requirement. Grimes asked about hauling snow and Strong answered that the parking lot will be able to accommodate the snow. Shaffer asked about removing snow in the inmate's outdoor area and Strong said that it has not been a problem in the downtown facility. . Minutes of the Board of Zoning Appeals September 29, 1997 Page 3 . Shaffer asked about the width of the parking stalls, showing concern about vehicles getting in and out of the spaces. He stated that most visitors will use the first three parking spots and perhaps they could each be made larger. This could be accomplished by pulling out some space from the island. Strong suggested that two feet could come out of the island to make two spaces each one foot larger. 1571 Sell observed that visitors would probably be dropped off at the door and the driver would go park and come back. Grimes added that there is on-street parking permitted which might be even easier. Grimes pointed out that the County maintained the 35 foot setback on Nevada as requested and left the building the same size to accommodate its needs. Strong added that the building is as small as possible in order to meet its needs and the various legal requirements. Sell stated that the applicant had accomplished what the Board asked them to do on Nevada. Polachek agreed. Groger stated that the proposal is not ideal for the site but it is better than the other plan. . Sell added that in the future it will be easier for the Board to maintain the 35 foot front setback since it has been maintained in this instance. MOVED by Polachek, seconded by Sell and motion carried unanimously to approve the variances as noted above with the additional requirement of adding one foot to each of two parking spaces, thereby reducing the size of the island by two feet. Shaffer commented that he was not happy about losing the 3 foot sidewalk along the east side of the building but believes this latest version of the proposed plan to be better. Mr. Strong thanked the Board for its approval and for coming in for this special meeting. II. Adjournment Chair Shaffer adjourned the meeting at 7:20pm. ~~ Robert Shaffer, Chair ~L Mark Grimes, Staff Liaison .