HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013/05/23 - ADMIN - Minutes - Board of Zoning Appeals - RegularOFFICIAL MINUTES OF MAY 23, 2013
BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS
CITY OF ST. LOUIS PARK
The St. Louis Park Board of Zoning Appeals conducted a meeting on May 23, 2013 at St.
Louis Park City Hall, 5005 Minnetonka Boulevard, St. Louis Park, Minnesota –
Council Chambers
Members Present: Susan Bloyer, James Gainsley, Paul Roberts
Members Absent: Henry Solmer
Staff Present: Gary Morrison, Assistant Zoning Administrator
Nancy Sells, Administrative Secretary
1. CALL TO ORDER – ROLL CALL
Chair Bloyer called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF APRIL 25, 2013
Commissioner Gainsley made a motion to approve the minutes of April 25, 2013.
The motion passed on a vote of 3-0.
3. CONSENT AGENDA
4. PUBLIC HEARINGS
A. Continued from April 25, 2013
Variance: Front and Side Yards
Location: 4637 Excelsior Boulevard
Applicant: Michael J. Jennings
Case No.: 13-15-VAR
Gary Morrison, Assistant Zoning Administrator, presented the staff report. He
stated that the application was presented to the Board on April 25, 2013 with a
request to build an addition with a 0.0 foot front yard and a 0.0 foot side yard
abutting the street. Staff recommended denial of the application, but indicated it
would support a variance to allow a 5.0 ft. front yard and a 5.0 foot side yard
abutting the street. The applicant’s representative, Mr. William Thibault,
requested the application be tabled so he could consider options with the
applicant. The Board of Zoning Appeals tabled consideration of the application.
Official Minutes
Board of Zoning Appeals
May 23, 2013
Page 2
Mr. Morrison explained that the applicant has agreed to proceed with a request for
variances to allow a 5.0 foot front yard and a 5.0 foot side yard abutting the street.
The applicant has submitted an addendum to the application.
Mr. Morrison spoke about the importance of the visibility triangle at the
intersection. He noted that the requested addition with the 5.0 foot front and side
yard abutting the street preserves adequate visibility at the intersection.
Mr. Morrison discussed purposes of setback requirements.
Mr. Morrison stated that staff believes the request meets the criterion required for
granting a variance and staff recommends adoption of a resolution approving a
variance to allow a 5.0 foot front yard, a 5.0 foot side yard abutting the street and
an encroachment into the visibility triangle for a building addition to the existing
commercial building.
Commissioner Gainsley said the request makes much more sense than the
proposal presented in April. He said he sees no gaps in the request.
Commissioner Roberts stated he had no questions for staff or the applicant.
Chair Bloyer asked if the elevation plans are part of the approved exhibit.
Mr. Morrison responded the elevation was offered as an example of what the
construction would look like. He said typically the city tries to hold the
elevations to the approval in the sense that they are one story, or basically the
mass of it.
Chair Bloyer closed the public hearing.
Commissioner Roberts stated that all issues had been addressed.
Chair Bloyer said she was a little uncomfortable without an official exhibit.
Commissioner Gainsley moved approval of the resolution granting a variance to
allow a 5.0 foot front yard, a 5.0 side yard abutting the street and an encroachment
into the visibility triangle resulting from the 5.0 yards for property located at 4637
Excelsior Blvd. The motion passed on a vote of 3-0.
Mr. Morrison read the statement regarding appeal to City Council.
5. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
6. NEW BUSINESS
Official Minutes
Board of Zoning Appeals
May 23, 2013
Page 3
7. COMMUNICATIONS
8. ADJOURN
The meeting was adjourned at 6:15 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Nancy Sells
Administrative Secretary