Laserfiche WebLink
• 7-19-2005 <br /> Jim Raivala <br /> 441 Upland Ave NW <br /> Elk River, MN 55330 <br /> 612-812-6746 <br /> Re: Land use application for Administrative Subdivision and Variance <br /> Administrative Subdivision: <br /> I am requesting an administrative subdivision or simple plat on my current property for <br /> two reasons. One, the division of the property creates a very nice city lot with a lake <br /> view for someone to build a home on. Two, the simple plat would provide the city <br /> necessary right-of-way to complete the 2005 road rehabilitation project. <br /> Variance: <br /> I am requesting a 10 foot building variance be granted on the east side of the newly <br /> created property at the corner of Upland and 5th Street. The variance should transfer to a <br /> • new owner if the lot is sold and should remain valid for a minimum of ten years. The <br /> property under examination is very unique and there are multiple reasons that the literal <br /> enforcement of the current ordinance should not apply to this property: <br /> - The lot division grants the city approx. 25 feet of right-of-way on the east side of the lot. <br /> By granting such a significant amount of right-of-way to the city the current buildable <br /> area of the existing lot is decreased. The variance requested would return some of the <br /> buildable area to the property <br /> -Returning some of the buildable area to the property will not adversely affect the health, <br /> safety, or general welfare of the public. The public will actually be safer with the new <br /> structures created on the side lot. <br /> - Allowing the house to be built 10 feet further east on the lot will provide conformance <br /> with the existing house on the block at 441 Upland Ave. Even with the 10 foot variance, <br /> the new structure built will be set back further from the road than my current property at <br /> 441 Upland <br /> -Many of the existing houses on Lake Orono/Main Street do not meet current set back <br /> requirements from the street. The new structure will not look odd or out of place if it is <br /> constructed closer to Upland Ave <br /> -Allowing the house to be built 10 feet further east on the lot will provide additional <br /> separation from the neighboring property on 5th Street <br /> - Literal enforcement of the current setback rules would deprive the owners of the <br /> property some additional privacy in the back/side lot to enjoy the lake views <br /> • - Allowing the 10 foot variance will give the builder more options in creating a structure <br /> to blend in with the existing neighborhood <br />