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My name is Lisa Benson and I recently purchase a home in the city of Elk River. The <br /> reason I am writing this letter is in regards to the variance that has been granted to Solid Rock <br /> Church. The variance would allow the plotting of three lots less than the required minimum lot <br /> size in the R1 single family zoning district, Case No. V 13-03. I believe this variance was <br /> granted in error due to many reasons. <br /> The variance granted to Solid Rock Church is not conducive to the general purpose and <br /> intent of the ordinance regarding lot size in the Brentwood neighborhood. The city of Elk River <br /> has set the requirement for lot sizes in the Brentwood neighborhood at 2.5 acres. If the church <br /> were to create a four lot split, only one of the lots would meet this requirement. The argument <br /> made by the church that numerous lots in the Brentwood neighborhood do not meet this <br /> requirement should not give additional support to their case. Homes have already been built on <br /> the other lots based on past lot requirements. No changes are being made to those lots. However, <br /> the church is attempting to meet their bank's new requirements and therefore, should have to <br /> comply with the new requirements imposed by the city of Elk River as well. The changes that the <br /> church wants to make will affect the present and future, not the past. Furthermore, there are no <br /> practical difficulties for the church to comply with this zoning ordinance being economic <br /> considerations do not apply. In the letter that Dr. Bill Matthews wrote to apply for this variance <br /> he listed two reasons, one of which was due to changes in the banking and lending requirements <br /> that have been made due to the economic turndown. This is not a circumstance unique to the <br /> property, but to the loan. The loan requirements have been altered by the Bank of Elk River. The <br /> second reason listed in the letter was to build an additional staff home on the property, which <br /> violates the city of Elk River's comprehensive plan, but I will discuss that at great length later on <br /> in this letter. <br /> All information obtained from the City of Elk River Comprehensive Plan Building the Future of Elk <br /> River,August 2004 Page 1 <br />