5.1. BASR 09-30-1997 - Laserfiche WebLink

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• • • Scott Harlicker 13065 Orono Parkway P.O.Box 490 Elk River,MN 55330 441-7420 Fax:441-7425 Gary&Lynn Gadacz 19764 York St.NW Elk River,MN 55330 441-4645 Fax:241-9811 August 18, 1997 Variance Committee, We purchased the existing home and have enjoyed living at the present address in Elk River for over 10 years with our 3 children,Christopher,Melissa,and Courtney. The neighborhood&city has been a good environment to raise our children. We have plans to stay at our present location permanently,but are having space problems with our present home. We have 2 vehicles,a camper and a boat that require proper storage conditions to maintain their value and provide a neat appearance for the neighborhood. Our children are active in school sports&two are training on the Minnesota US Biathlon team. This is a year round commitment that requires a special area for them to prepare their equipment and for storage. We had the property surveyed a few years ago to provide additional information for our remodeling project. It was then we discovered that there was less land then we were told by the seller of the house. He told us that the property line started at the utility boxes at the two front corners. This was not the case. The house and attached garage is positioned at angles not parallel or perpendicular to any property lines. Our existing garage is 13 feet from the north property line. The house is also placed at the top of a large hill with steep slopes also limiting the possibilities. The yard is extensively landscaped with large retaining walls and underground irrigation.The well is located in the front of the house preventing any expansion in that area. We feel that the original owner/builder's choice of placement has left us with a difficult situation with any expansion plans. We have been trying to decide over the past 2 years on a home improvement plans that will work for us. Both the lot and our home have unique angles and placement such as to limit the possible concepts,both physically and monetarily. The proposed plan seams like the most obvious choice to us and the builder that we are inquiring with. We are proposing that the attached addition to the garage be angled such as to parallel the property line. This would put the back of the garage addition about 5 feet from the property line and provide barely enough space in the front for access. The East end of the garage addition will be outside the legal setback also. The closet neighbor to the North has a garage between them and us providing privacy for both parties. The addition would not cause any additional or noticeable effects due to the fact that there is a large brushy,undeveloped area between us presently. In fact,that neighbor effected by this variance will not be able to see the structure. The closest distance between the two existing structures is 115 feet. Approving this variance will not be injurious to or adversely affect the health,safety,or welfare of the • residents in the city or the neighborhood wherein the property is situated and will be in keeping with the spirit and intent of the ordinance.