09-26-17 BZA Minutes Minutes of a Regular Meeting of the
Golden Valley Board of Zoning Appeals
September 26, 2017
A regular meeting of the Golden Valley Board of Zoning Appeals was held on Tuesday,
September 26, 2017, at City Hall, 7800 Golden Valley Road, Golden Valley, Minnesota.
Chair Perich called the meeting to order at 7 pm.
Those present were Members Maxwell, Nelson, Orenstein, Perich and Planning
Commission Representative Segelbaum. Also present were Associate Planner/Grant
Writer Emily Goellner and Administrative Assistant Lisa Wittman.
I. Approval of Minutes— July 25, 2017, Regular Meeting
MOVED by Perich, seconded by Nelson and motion carried unanimously to approve the
July 25, 2017, minutes as submitted.
II. The Petition(s) are:
6530 Hampshire Place
Matthew & Marnie Thoen, Applicants
Request: Waiver from Section 11.21, Single Family Zoning Distric�t,
Subd. 11(A)(3)(a) Side Yard Setback Requirements
• 7.44 ft. off of the required 15 ft. to a distance of 7.56 ft. at its closest point to
the side yard (east) property line.
Purpose: To allow for the construction of a garage addition.
Goellner referred to a survey and photos of the property and explained the applicant's
request to build a second garage stall. She stated that the existing one-stall garage is 12
feet wide by 24 feet deep and that the second garage stall is proposed to be 14 feet wide
by 24 feet deep. She added that the applicants are also proposing an addition on the back
of their home however, that addition does not require any variances. She explained that
staff is recommending a modified variance of 5.44 feet off the required 15 feet to a
distance of 9.56 feet at its closest point to the east property line to allow a 12-foot wide
garage addition.
Segelbaum asked if the walls of the proposed garage have to be articulated. Goellner said
no, articulation isn't required until the wall is 32 feet in length.
Orenstein asked if the back corner of the proposed garage would be the closest point to
the east property line. Goellner said yes. Maxwell asked how far the front corner of the
proposed garage is to the east property line. Goellner said it would be approximately 9.5
feet away from the east property line.
Nelson noted that the neighboring house to the east is a significant distance away.
Minutes of the Golden Valley Board of Zoning Appeals
September 26, 2017
Page 2
Segelbaum asked if any comments have been received from the neighboring property
owners. Goellner said no.
Marnie Thoen, applicant, stated that when they first bought this house they thought it would
be a starter house and they would eventually move, but now they like the neighborhood
and want to stay and have the house grow with them. She explained that the proposed
addition on the back of the house will reconfigure the kitchen and add dining and living
space so after they add that much space they don't want to have a house with a one -stall
garage. She stated that they are willing to compromise and build the garage addition 12
feet wide instead of 14 feet. She added that their neighbors are in agreement with the
proposal and that it is unfortunate that the house was built right to the front and side yard
setbacks so that there is no room to expand the existing garage without a variance.
Segelbaum asked what the neighboring property to the east has said about the proposal.
Thoen stated that the neighbor said he is happy with the proposal because it will help block
the view into his back yard.
Orenstein asked Thoen how she felt about having a 24 -foot wide garage. Thoen said she
would be fine with that and that getting this variance will impact their decision on whether or
not they go forward with the addition in the back of the house.
Perich opened the public hearing. Seeing and hearing no one wishing to comment, Perich
closed the public hearing.
Orenstein said it has been the history of the Board to be sympathetic towards one -stall
garages. He said he would be in favor of allowing a 24 -foot wide garage. Nelson agreed
and said that it meets all of the criteria the Board considers when granting variances.
Segelbaum agreed and said he is pleased to see enhancements made. He said the
modified request is reasonable and he would support it. He noted that the original request
is more than 50% of the setback requirement which he doesn't think is reasonable. Perich
stated that the Board usually tries to only grant what is reasonable.
MOVED by Maxwell, seconded by Segelbaum and motion carried unanimously to approve
a variance request for 5.44 feet off the required 15 feet to a distance of 9.56 feet from the
side yard (east) property line.
III. Other Business
No other business was discussed.
IV. Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 7:20 pm.
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David Perich, Chair
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Ma Wittman, Administrative Assistant