7.4. SR 05-20-1996 - Laserfiche WebLink

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VARIANCE REQUEST STEPHEN ROHLF 3/96 I am requesting a 5 foot encroachment on the 10 foot side yard and a 2 foot encroachment on the 30 front yard setbacks required in the R-lc zone to accommodate an enlargement of my deck The following are my rationale for why I feel I meet the 5 standards for granting a variance: i. HARDSHIP Currently I have a 6 ft. x 12 ft. deck (more like a balcony). The usable area is actually less than 6ft. x 9ft. because of the railing and the stairs cutting into this space. I am requesting a variance in general to make the deck a usable size; something which almost every home takes advantage of. However, the 2ft. encroachment into the required front yard is to specifically to gain visibility of a proposed play area for my children. Because of the size and physical restrictions of my lot I am hmited to where I can provide a play area for my very small children. The only yard that can accommodate a play area is on the side next to the garage where we have no windows. While this play area will be fenced, those of you who are parents will appreciate having an advantage point to watch your kids. Encroaching this small amount into the front yard will also allow me to make my deck a usable size without having to destroy the 30" tree shown on the attached drawing. ii. SPECIAL CONDITIONS The physical characteristics of my lot dictated the design and location of my house. First of all, my lot is only 75ft. wide, not the typical minimum of 100ft. required for corner lots in the R-lc zone. My neighborhood (Westwood Subdivision) was platted in the 1950s. Further, there is an under ground steam running through my lot in the approximate location shown on the attached site plan. To avoid water problems I redesign my house. I made it into a spht so it did not have to be place very deep into the ground, I reversed the house and the garage to get the house as far away from this stream as possible and moved the house to the west as far as possible.