7a. Lamar Avenue Variance requestRECEIVED
CITY OF SCANDIA
Scandia Variance Request Hardship
"Lamar Siblings Lot F and Lot G" Project
Background: Siblings Michael Werb (owns Lot F) and Brenda Walker with her husband Alan
Walker (own Lot G), request a side setback variance to build houses. The lots are 50' wide in
front and 52' wide in back and between 192' and 201' deep on each side. We request a
variance for side setbacks from 20' to 8' in order to build two separate 30' wide (by 35' long)
houses on the separate lots.
The hardship includes:
A. Both property owners propose to use the property in a reasonable manner. Each of the
landowners plan a 30' wide house that would be possible with a side setback variance of
12' on each side of each lot allowing for 8' side setbacks.
B. The houses the owners plan to build are similar to other houses in the area and do not
encroach on existing houses.
C. The fact is the lots are not conducive to meeting exact code requirements of 20' side
setbacks on the 50' lots that leaves only a 10' width for building a house. The lots would
not be worth having without this variance.
D. The best and least intrusive request is for side setback variances. Otherwise a
reasonable use for the property does not exist under the terms of the Zoning Ordinance
and codes.
E. The slope of the lots limit where a house can be placed; owners need a safe place to
build which the variance will allow.
F. The plight of the landowners is due to circumstances unique to the property, not
created by the landowner. These circumstances existed before the owners purchased
the lots.
G. The variance, if granted, will not alter the essential character of the locality, including
the rural community, and will not impede the agricultural goals and natural resources in
the area.