Date: August 17, 2017
To: Members of the Zoning Board of Appeals
From: Scott Tempel, City Planner
Title
Consideration of Resolution for a Variance at 1114 Water St. S.
Body
Action Requested:
Staff is recommending approval of the ZBA Resolution allowing construction of a garage three feet from the property line at 1114 Water St. S.
Summary Report:
The subject property is zoned R1, Low Density Residential. This single-family home was built in 1930 without a garage. The current owner purchased the home this year and would like to add a one-car detached garage just to the rear of the house.
The Northfield Land Development Code, Table 3.2-3 requires detached garages in the R1 zone district to maintain a side-yard setback of five feet. The applicant has proposed to locate the garage behind the house and maintain driveway access along the side of the house. In order to keep the garage in line with the driveway, the applicant would like to construct the garage with a side-yard setback of three feet.
Constructing the garage at the required setback of five feet would create a hardship due to the topography, location of the house, and an existing retaining wall. The property drops in elevation nearly 4 feet from the house to the rear yard and 32 inches from the east end of the proposed garage to the west end. There is a retaining wall in the back yard due to the elevation change that the homeowner wishes to avoid by staying closer to the side yard. More importantly, moving the garage further to the south would create a difficult angle to enter the garage and for plowing.
The neighbor immediately to the north has expressed concern and opposition to the variance. They believe the garage will interfere with drainage flows and put water in their basement. They also do not like the aesthetics of having the garage so close. The City Planner met with the neighbors and visited the site afterwards with a member of the Northfield Engineering Department. The pr...
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