7.b 2 Erkenbrack setback variance
Memorandum
To: Scandia City Council
Neil Soltis, City
Administrator
Reference: Erkenbrack Variance Application
Copies To: Brenda Eklund, Clerk
Gary and Regina
Erkenbrack, Applicants
Project No.: 16022.014
From: Sherri Buss, RLA AICP,
Planner
Routing:
Date: July 12, 2016
SUBJECT: Erkenbrack Variance for an Accessory Structure
MEETING DATE: July 19, 2016
LOCATION: 10455 192nd Street North
APPLICANT: Gary and Regina Erkenbrack
ZONING: General Rural (GR) District and Shoreland District of White Rock Lake
60-DAY PERIOD: August 12, 2016
ITEMS REVIEWED: Application and Sketch Plan received June 13, 2016
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE REQUEST:
The applicants are seeking to build an accessory building closer to the roadway than the
existing home at 10455 192nd Street North. The proposed structure would be located about
130 feet from the north boundary of their property and approximately 90 feet from the right -of-
way of 192nd Street North.
The applicant’s parcel includes approximately 4.4 acres, and is located in the General Rural
(GR) District and within the Shoreland Overlay District of White Rock Lake, which is classified
as a Natural Environment Lake in the Shoreland Ordinance.
BACKGROUND AND DETAILED EVALUATION OF THE VARIANCE REQUEST:
The applicants are requesting a variance to build a 40’x60’’ accessory building on the parcel
located at 10455 192nd Street North. They are requesting to build the structure approximately
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Scandia Council Page 2 July 19, 2016
90 feet from the road right-of-way. The Development Code requires that “no detached
accessory structure, including storage sheds, shall be located closer to the road right-of-way in
relation to the front lot line than the principal building on a lot without a variance unless all of the
following conditions are met:
1. The accessory structure is at least 200 feet from the road right-of-way on lots of five (5)
acres or more; and
2. All setbacks are met.”
The applicants require a variance to place the accessory building in the proposed location.
Comprehensive Plan
The Comprehensive Plan includes goals to preserve the community’s rural character and
recognize, protect and encourage agriculture as a long-term land use. The Plan’s goals for the
General Rural (GR) District include the following:
Provide for a wide range of land uses that are able to coexist within a rural setting,
including traditional and specialty agriculture, horse and hobby farms, limited raising of
animals, market gardening, and residential development and institutional uses.
The Comprehensive Plan permits single-family residential uses and accessory structures in the
General Rural District and Shoreland District. It includes goals to protect shoreland areas
through enforcement of the setbacks, impervious surface requirements and other requirements
in the Ordinance.
The proposed use of the property is consistent with the goals of the Comprehensive Plan for the
General Rural District and Shoreland Districts.
Development Code Requirements: Lot Size and Setbacks
The applicant’s lot is 4.4 acres in size. The GR District permits lots of 2 acres and larger in size.
The required setbacks for structures in the GR District and Shoreland Overlay District of White
Rock Lake are the following:
Front setback (from ROW): 40
Side setbacks for most structures: 20 feet
Rear setback: 50 feet
Setback from OHWL: 200 feet
The applicant’s proposed setbacks include the following:
Front setback (from ROW): approximately 90’
Side setback (west property line): 60’
Rear setback: 400+’
Setback from OHWL: 400+’
The proposed structure meets the setback requirements in the GR Zoning District and
Shoreland Overlay District.
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Scandia Council Page 3 July 19, 2016
Accessory Structures
There is one existing accessory structure on the parcel—a garden shed. The proposed building
will be 2,400 square feet in size. The Development code permits up to two residential accessory
structures with a total area of 2,500 square feet on parcels between 3.0 and 5.0 acres in size.
The applicants indicated that they will remove the existing shed in order to stay within the total
area of accessory buildings that are permitted on the parcel. The Planner has included a
proposed condition for approval of the variance that the applicants shall remove the existing
shed.
Lot Coverage
The Development Code permits up to 25% lot coverage on parcels within the GR District. The
Planner calculated the existing impervious coverage of the parcel as approximately 4% (existing
house, garage, and driveway). The addition of the accessory building would increase the
coverage on the parcel to approximately 5%. The proposed lot coverage meets the
Development Code requirement.
Building Height, Materials and Color
The proposed building height would be approximately 21 feet at the roof ridge line, and 24 feet
including two cupolas. The maximum building height permitted in the GR District is 35 feet.
The proposed height meets the Development Code requirement.
The applicant indicated that the building will be constructed of pre-painted panels with colors
that will match the house.
The Planner has included a condition that existing vegetation to the north and west of the
proposed building be maintained to provide screening for the structure from 192nd Street and the
adjacent property.
Driveway Access
The parcel has an existing driveway access to 192nd Street. The applicants do not propose to
change the access.
Wastewater Treatment
The addition of the accessory building will not require an expansion of the wastewater treatment
system.
Stormwater Management
The proposed building is located outside the existing drainage easements of the parcel. The
applicants have proposed the location to avoid wetlands on the parcel.
The Planner sent the application to the Rice Creek Watershed District (RCWD) and Minnesota
DNR for review and comment. The District’s staff responded that “RCWD has no comment
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regarding the variance. The project appears to be under permit thresholds.” The DNR staff
also stated that they had no comments on the variance request.
CRITERIA FOR VARIANCES AND FINDINGS
Chapter 1, Section 6.0 of the Development Code and Minnesota Statutes 462.357 include the
criteria and required process for granting variance requests.
Variances may only be granted when the terms of the variance are consistent with the
Comprehensive Plan and in harmony with the general purpose and intent of the development
code. The other variance criteria include:
1. The applicant proposes to use the property in a reasonable manner not permitted by the
Development Code.
2. The plight of the landowner is due to circumstances unique to the property not created
by the landowner.
3. The variance, if granted, will not alter the essential character of the locality.
4. Economic conditions alone shall not constitute practical difficulties.
5. The proposed variance will not impair an adequate supply of light and air to adjacent
property, or substantially increase the congestion of the public streets, or increase the
danger of fire, or endanger the public safety, or substantially diminish or impair property
values within the neighborhood.
6. The required variance is the minimum action required to eliminate the practical difficulty.
7. Practical difficulties include, but are not limited to, inadequate access to direct sunlight
for solar energy systems.
Applicant’s Rationale for the Variance
The applicant noted the following in his rationale for the variance request:
The potential locations for the structure that would be farther from the road right-of-way
than the house are restricted. The septic system is located to the east of the house, the
lake is to the south, and the poor soils west of the house do not permit the building to be
constructed there.
Findings—Planner Analysis and Options for Consideration
The following bullets present the Planner’s findings related to applicant’s request for a variance,
based on the criteria for granting a variance. Each of the criteria is shown in italics, with the
analysis in standard text that follows:
Variances shall only be permitted when they are in harmony with the general purposes
and intent of the official control.
The Comprehensive Plan, Development Code, and Shoreland Ordinance permit
accessory structures for residential uses in the General Rural District. The Code
requires that accessory structures be located behind the primary structure to protect
views from local roads and nearby properties. The proposed location is screened from
192nd Street and the nearest residential properties by existing vegetation. It meets the
setback requirement from White Rock Lake. The proposed variance is in harmony with
the general purpose and intent of the official controls.
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The property owner proposes to use the property in a reasonable manner under the
conditions allowed by official control(s).
Accessory structures are permitted, and therefore reasonable, uses in the General Rural
District. The proposed use is a reasonable use based on the official controls.
The practical difficulties are not caused by the landowner, and are unique to the
property.
The practical difficulties are unique to the property, and include the location of the
existing septic system, location of White Rock Lake, and poor soils in locations that
would meet the requirement to be located farther from the road right-of-way than the
existing home. The proposed location maintains all other setback requirements.
The variance would not alter the essential character of the area.
The applicant’s parcel is adjacent to residential and agricultural properties. Many of the
parcels have accessory structures. The proposed structure will be screened from
adjacent parcels and 192nd Street North by existing vegetation. Granting the variance
would not alter the essential character of the area.
Economic conditions alone shall not constitute practical difficulties.
The practical difficulties are the result of the location of the existing septic system, lake,
and poor soils on the parcel. The practical difficulties are not only economic in nature.
The proposed variance will not impair an adequate supply of light and air to adjacent
property, or substantially increase the congestion of the public streets, or increase the
danger of fire, or endanger the public safety, or substantially diminish or impair property
values within the neighborhood.
The proposed variance will not impair the supply of light or air to adjacent properties,
increase congestion, endanger the public, or substantially diminish or impair property
values in the neighborhood if the building is screened from view from nearby parcels.
The required variance is the minimum action required to eliminate the practical difficulty.
The variance permits construction of the building in a location that is setback as far as
possible the roadway right-of-way while avoiding poor soils, the septic system, and the
required setback from the OHWL of White Rock Lake. The location meets the other
setback requirements in the Development Code. The proposed variance is the
minimum action needed to eliminate the practical difficulty to permit construction of the
proposed accessory building on the parcel.
Practical difficulties include, but are not limited to, inadequate access to direct sunlight
for solar energy systems.
The variance is not related to a need for direct sunlight for solar energy systems.
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The findings support granting a variance to add the garage in the proposed location.
PLANNING COMMISSION PUBLIC HEARING, DISCUSSION, AND RECOMMENDATION
The Planning Commission held a public hearing on the variance request at its meeting on July
5. The Commission received no written or verbal comments on the request. A Commissioner
asked about how the condition to maintain the screening vegetation would be enforced, and
staff indicated that it would be enforced if the City receives complaints, as occurs with other
zoning complaints. The Commission voted to recommend that the Council approve the
variance with conditions included in the staff report.
ACTION REQUESTED:
The City Council can take one of the following actions:
1. Approval
2. Approval with conditions
3. Denial with findings
4. Table the request
PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDATIONS:
The Planning Commission recommends that the City Council approve a Variance to permit
construction of a 40’x60’ accessory building that is 130’ feet from the northern parcel boundary
of the parcel at 10455 192nd Street North.
.
The Commission recommends the following conditions for the variance:
1. Development of the property shall be consistent with the plans submitted to the City on
June 13, 2016.
2. The accessory building shall meet all other setback requirements for accessory
structures in the General Rural and Shoreland Overlay Districts.
3. The applicants shall obtain a building permit and land alternation permit (if needed) from
the City.
4. The applicants shall remove the existing garden shed prior to construction of the
accessory building.
5. The accessory building may be used for personal use or agricultural use only. No
commercial use or commercially-related storage is permitted in the barn.
6. The applicants shall maintain the existing vegetation to the north and west of the
accessory building to provide screening for the structure.
7. The applicants shall pay all fees and escrows associated with this application.
CITY OF SCANDIA, MINNESOTA
RESOLUTION NO. 07-19-16-02
APPROVING VARIANCE FOR 10455 192ND STREET NORTH
WHEREAS, Gary and Regina Erkenbrack made an application for a Variance from the
requirement that no accessory structure shall be located closer to the road right-of-way than the
primary structure in order to construct a new accessory building on the parcel at 10455 192nd
Street North; and
WHEREAS, the property is legally described as follows:
That part of Government Lot 4, Section 30, Township 32 North, Range 20 West,
Washington County, Minnesota which lies east of the west 935.11 feet thereof and which lies
west of the east 11 rods thereof. This parcel contains 5 acres, more or less, and is subject to the
right-of-way of 192nd Street North; and
WHEREAS, the Planning Commission reviewed the request for the Variance at a duly
noticed Public Hearing on July 5, 2016, and recommended approval of the Variance, with
conditions; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF SCANDIA, WASHINGTON COUNTY, MINNESOTA, that it should
and hereby does approve a Variance to permit construction of a new accessory building that is
40’x60’ in area and approximately 21 feet in height at a location that is a minimum of 90 feet
from the road right-of-way of 192nd Street North, based on the following findings:
1. The request is in harmony with the general purposes and intent of the official controls.
The Comprehensive Plan, Development Code, and Shoreland Ordinance support
residential uses and related accessory structures in the General Rural and Shoreland
Overlay Districts. The proposed building will be screened from views from 192nd Street
North and adjacent properties. It meets the setback requirements of the Development
Code and Shoreland Ordinance.
2. The proposed use is reasonable under the conditions allowed by the Development Code.
Accessory structures are permitted, and therefore reasonable, uses in the General Rural
District.
3. The practical difficulties are unique to the property and were not created by the applicant.
Resolution No.: 07-19-16-__
Page 2 of 3
The practical difficulties include the location of the existing septic system, location of
White Rock Lake, and poor soils in locations that would meet the requirement to be
located further from the road right-of-way than the existing home.
4. Granting the variance would not alter the essential character of the area. The applicants’
parcel is adjacent to other residential and agricultural properties that have similar
accessory structures. The proposed structure will be screened from views from 192nd
Street North and adjacent parcels by existing vegetation.
5. The practical difficulties are not only economic in nature. The practical difficulties are
related to the location of the existing septic system, location of White Rock Lake, and
poor soils on the parcel that limit the potential location of the accessory building.
6. The addition of the barn on the parcel will not impair the supply of light or air to adjacent
properties, will not increase congestion, endanger the public, or substantially diminish or
impair property values in the neighborhood.
7. Granting the requested variance is the minimum action required to eliminate the practical
difficulty. The variance permits construction of the accessory building in a location that
is setback as far as possible from the roadway right-of-way while avoiding poor soils, the
septic system, and maintaining the required setback from the OHWL of White Rock
Lake. The location meets the other setback requirements in the Development Code. .
8. The variance is not related to a need for direct sunlight for solar energy systems.
FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED, that the following conditions of approval shall be met:
1. Development of the property shall be consistent with the plans submitted to the City
on June 13, 2016.
2. The applicants shall obtain a building permit and land alternation permit (if needed)
from the City.
3. The applicants shall remove the existing garden shed on the parcel prior to
construction of the accessory building.
4. The accessory building may be used for personal use or agricultural use only. No
commercial use or commercially-related storage is permitted in the barn.
5. The applicants shall maintain the existing vegetation to the north and west of the
accessory building to provide screening for the structure.
6. The applicants shall pay all fees and escrows associated with this application.
Resolution No.: 07-19-16-__
Page 3 of 3
Adopted by the Scandia City Council this 19th day of July, 2016.
______________________________
Randall Simonson, Mayor
ATTEST:
_________________________________
Neil Soltis, Administrator/Clerk