5.3 PCSR 01-30-1995 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Memo to Planning Commission Page 2 January 24, 1995 • involves adding a 20 ft. by 50 ft. (1,000 sq. ft.) addition to the existing detached garage. The total accessory structure area, if the variance is approved, would equal 2,356 square feet, or 356 square feet greater than the ordinance allows. The applicant has constructed the existing detached garage with masonite siding and the addition is proposed to be a continuation of that standard. The reason the applicant wants to construct a 20 ft. by 50 ft. addition to the detached garage is to protect his motor home from the outside elements. Please refer to the attached memo from the applicant outlining his reasons for wanting the addition. In the letter, the applicant maintains that his property would look better aesthetically if the motorhome was kept inside rather than outside along the existing detached garage. Staff and the applicant have discussed other options rather than a variance such as reducing the size and configuration of the building. However, these options were not acceptable to the applicant because the reduction in the size of the building would no longer allow the applicant to use the building for its intended use, which is to store his motor home. VARIANCE Staff refers the Planning Commission to Section 900.40 of the City of Elk River Code of Ordinances for the five standards to consider when reviewing a • variance request. Although staff does see the merits of storing equipment inside, it is difficult to apply the variance parameters to fit Mr. LeFebvre's request. There are no special conditions or circumstances which are peculiar to this subject site which are not characteristic to other properties in the same zoning district. Other property owners in the Ma zoning district are subject to the same size restrictions as the applicant. Staff could find no factors which make this request unique from any other similar request. Approving this variance may lead to a precedent being set for similar requests in the future. If the Commission feels this a valid request, it may be more appropriate to amend the ordinance to increase the area allowed for accessory structure space, rather than approve a variance. The following paragraphs will highlight this very issue. ACCESSORY STRUCTURE ORDINANCE The City of Elk River amended the accessory structure ordinance in March 1994, due to the high number of requests exceeding the city standards. Prior to the ordinance amendment, anyone wishing to exceed the city's maximum accessory structure standard went through a conditional use permit. The City lacked any solid guidelines for controlling the size of accessory structures and each request was approved on its own merits. In an effort to • reduce the number of conditional use permits reviewed by staff and the City Council, staff proposed an ordinance amendment increasing the area standards for accessory structures and requiring a variance, to exceed the pc:v94-18