Loading...
08-24-99 BZA Minutes 1687 Minutes of a Regular Meeting of the Golden Valley Board of Zoning Appeals . August 24, 1999 The regular meeting of the Golden Valley Board of Zoning Appeals was held Tuesday, August 24, 1999, in the Council Chambers, 7800 Golden Valley Road, Golden Valley, MN. Chair Swedberg called the meeting to order at 7 p.m. Those present were: Members Lang, Polachek, Sell and Swedberg; and Planning Commission Representative Pentel. Also present were Staff Liaison Mary Dold and Tammi Hall, Recording Secretary . I. Approval of Minutes - July 27,1999 MOVED by Polachek, seconded by Sell and motion carried unanimously to approve the minutes of July 27, 1999 as submitted. II. The Petitions: 7156 Harold Avenue (Map 17 (99-8-25) - Continued Item from June 22, 1999 Thomas and Sharon Ruble Request: Waiver from Section 11.21, Subd. 7(C)(1) Side Yard Setback for: . · 7.1 feet off the required 15 feet to a distance of 7.9 feet for the proposed second-stall garage addition at its closest point to the side (east) property line. Purpose: To allow for the construction of a 10' x 24' second-stall garage addition onto the existing garage located on the east side of the property. Chair Swedberg read the requested variances. Thomas Ruble was present. Chair Swedberg asked for comments or questions from Board members. There were no questions regarding the variance request. MOVED by Polachek, seconded by Pentel and motion carried unanimously to approve the variance as requested. 2233 Ensign Avenue North (Map 19) (99-8-26) Euaene Melnik Request: Waiver from Section 11.21, Subd. 7(A) Front Yard Setback for: · 1 foot off the required 35 feet to a distance of 34 feet for the existing structure at its closest point to the front property line. Purpose: To allow for the construction of a conforming deck onto the rear of the house. e': Chair Swedberg read the requested variance. 1688 Minutes of the Board of Zoning Appeals Meeting August 24, 1999 Page 2 Dold stated that this is a minor variance request for the existing home. She indicated that the applicant had signed off on a "Hold Harmless" letter to allow them to proceed with construction of the deck. . MOVED by Sell, seconded by Polachek and motion carried unanimously to approve the variance as requested. 2501 Parkview Blvd. (Map 1 ) (99-8-27) Carole Beach Request: Waiver from Section 11.21, Subd. 7(C)(2) Side Yard Setback for: · 2.2 feet off the required 11.7 feet to a distance of 9.5 feet for the existing house at its closest point to the side (north) property line. Purpose: To allow for the construction of a conforming deck onto the rear of the house. Chair Swedberg read the requested variances. Carole Beach was present. Dold stated that the variance is needed for the existing house. She indicated that the applicant had signed off on a "Hold Harmless" letter. MOVED by Lang, seconded by Sell and motion carried unanimously to approve the variance as requested. . 123 Ottawa Avenue North (Map 8) (99-8-28) Breck School Request: Waiver from Section 11.46, Subd. 8 Yard Requirements for: · 27'8" off the required 50 feet to a distance of 22'4" for a proposed addition (20' x 50') at its closest point to the rear (north) property line; and · 19'9" off the required 50 feet to a distance of 30'3" for a proposed addition (60' x100') at its closest point to the rear (north) property line; and · 12'2" off the required 50 feet to a distance of 37'10" for the existing structure on the west side at its closest point to the rear (north) property line; and · 12'2" off the required 50 feet to a distance of 37'10" for the existing structure on the east side at its closest point to the rear property line; and · 23 feet off the required 25 feet to a distance of 2 feet for the lack of landscaping on the north side of the property. Purpose: To allow for the construction of two additions into the rear yard setback. Chair Swedberg read the requested variances. Dawn Wieczorek of the Cuningham Group was present representing Breck School. -- Minutes of the Board of Zoning Appeals Meeting August 24, 1999 Page 3 1689 . Member Lang removed himself from the Board and did not participate in discussion or voting. because he is employed by the Cuningham Group, architects for the Breck project. After he removed himself, the Board continued with a quorum. . Dold stated that Breck would like to construct five additions to the existing school. She stated that two variances are needed for two of the additions on the north side, the dining room and a transformer room, which extend into the rear setback. Dold stated that two additional variances are needed for the existing structure which protrudes into the rear setback on the west and east sides. She indicated that the fifth variance is for a lack of landscaping. Dold indicated that a variance was previously granted for the lack of landscaping but it was not for the correct number of feet so staff is requesting that a new variance be granted for the correct amount. Dold stated that the City Engineer had verified that the construction is occurring one foot above the flood elevation. She stated that there is a girls' athletic field behind the school that will most likely be replaced with a wetland/ponding area. Dold also stated that the City had received a letter from a neighboring property owner expressing concern regarding the Breck project. Dold indicated that Board members had received a copy of the letter. Dold added that the rear of the property, where the variances are needed, is bordered by a wooded area. Pentel asked if the traffic loop would remain in the same location. Dold responded that the traffic loop would remain. Pentel commented that the variance for the dining room addition had previously been granted by the Board. Wieczorek stated that the purpose of the project is to upgrade the existing facility. She stated that Breck does not intend to increase its student enrollment. The additions include a performing arts rehearsal facility, dining room, mechanical room, receiving area/trash facility, and an administrative office. She indicated that these additions will vacate some other areas in the existing facility which will then be remodeled to better accommodate existing classes at Breck. e Wieczorek stated that approximately three quarters of the Breck property is wetlands and/or flood plain. She indicated that this restricts the area available for expansion. She stated that it has not yet been decided whether the pond will be located in the area that is currently the girls' athletic field. She indicated that other options are also under consideration. Swedberg asked if Breck uses parking space at the Legion. Wieczorek responded that there are 81 parking spaces in a lot that sits partially on Breck property and partially on Legion property. She stated that Breck currently leases this parking area from the Legion on an annual basis. She stated that the parking for the site met City code requirements without including the parking spaces leased from the Legion. She indicated that a parking lot will be added on the property due to parking space that will be lost as a result of the addition for the performing arts rehearsal facility. She stated that the added parking lot will result in a net increase of approximately twenty parking spaces on the. property. Pentel asked about the plans for Phase Two of the project. Wieczorek responded that Phase Two will be handled in a Planned Unit Development (P.U.D.). She indicated that it will include addition of a practice facility and upgrades to the athletic stadium. Pentel asked about the timing of the project. Wieczorek responded that Phase One will be started immediately. She indicated that the P.U.D. process will begin in September and they hope to be concluded by January or February. She indicated that construction on Phase Two would begin in January or February and be complete by September of 2000. She indicated that the interior remodeling portion of Phase One will be completed during the summer of 2000. e Minutes of the Board of Zoning Appeals Meeting August 24, 1999 Page 4 1690 Swedberg stated that the first variance request is for the mechanical room addition. Wieczorek indicated that there is currently a cooling tower in the location of the mechanical room addition. Pentel commented that the addition is still within the boundaries of the driveway and there is sufficient room for emergency vehicles. Wieczorek commented that some vegetation will be removed in a small area where the driveway currently narrows slightly. She indicated that the driveway will be expanded to 20 feet as required for emergency vehicles. e Board members reviewed the letter received from the neighboring property owner. Swedberg stated that the letter expressed strong feelings about maintaining green space and open space. The Board concluded that the content of the letter was quite broad and the concerns expressed did not relate to the Breck project since there will be very minimal removal of vegetation for the project. Swedberg noted that there is extensive vegetation between Breck School and the railroad tracks which minimizes the impact on the residential properties that abut the railroad tracks on the other side. Dold stated that the City had also received a call from another neighbor stating that they were opposed to the addition. Dold stated that the neighbors located at 400, 422 and 440 Cloverleaf Drive were notified of the variance request. She added that in the P.U.D. process, property owners within 500 feet of the Breck property will be notified. Wieczorek stated that Breck had also notified and received signatures from five businesses on the northeast side of the property. MOVED by Pentel, seconded by Polachek and motion carried unanimously to grant the variances as requested. Lang abstained from voting. IV. Other Business e There was no other business discussed. V. Adjournment Swedberg adjourned the meeting at 7:45 p.m. }~. Mahlo" Swedberg, c~ <fYI~ Mary Do ,Staff Liaison e