HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020/11/02 - ADMIN - Minutes - Board of Zoning Appeals - RegularMeeting: City council
Meeting date: November 2, 2020
Consent agenda item: 4i
OFFICIAL MINUTES
BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS
ST. LOUIS PARK, MINNESOTA
SEPTEMBER 4, 2019
COUNCIL CHAMBERS
MEMBERS PRESENT: Claudia Johnston-Madison; Jessica Kraft; Courtney Erwin; Matt Eckholm;
Jim Beneke
MEMBERS ABSENT: Lynette Dumalag; Carl Robertson
STAFF PRESENT: Gary Morrison, assistant zoning administrator
1. Call to Order – Roll Call
Chair Eckholm called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
2. Approval of Minutes
2a. February 28, 2019
2b. June 19, 2019
Commissioner Johnston-Madison made a motion to approve the minutes for February
28, 2019 and June 19, 2019. Commissioner Kraft seconded the motion. The motion was
approved on a vote of 5-0.
3. Public Hearings
3a. Variance to allow an accessory building in the front yard of a through lot
Applicant: Brandon Eddy and Christine Olson
Location: 3274 Blackstone Ave S.
Case No.: 19-22-VAR
Gary Morrison, assistant zoning administrator, presented the staff report. The variance
request is to allow a detached garage to be allowed in the front yard of a through lot.
Mr. Morrison explained the neighbor to the north will be applying for, essentially, the
same variance.
Staff recommend the board conduct a public hearing and adopt the resolution
approving the requested variance with conditions recommended by staff.
Ms. Johnston-Madison asked staff if there is any value in looking at classifying Brunswick
Avenue as an alley rather than a street. Mr. Morrison explained that the difference
between a street and an alley is the dimensions of the right-of-way. Alleys do not allow
parking within while streets do.
City council meeting of November 2, 2020 (Item No. 4i) Page 2
Title: Board of zoning appeals meeting minutes September 4, 2019
Ms. Johnston-Madison asked why this could not have been done administratively. Mr.
Morrison explained that there is a process to allow administrative variances but St. Louis
Park does not have this written into the code. Ms. Johnston-Madison asked if this would
be worth looking into. Mr. Morrison stated that staff have had that conversation.
The public hearing was opened. The public hearing was closed.
Chair Eckholm expressed appreciation to the applicant for reusing the garage.
Commissioner Johnston-Madison made a motion to adopt the resolution approving a
variance to allow a detached garage to be constructed in the front yard of a through lot
opposite of the front yard by the house at 3274 Blackstone Avenue South.
Commissioner Erwin seconded the motion. The motion was approved on a vote of 5-0.
4. Other Business: None
5. Communications
6. Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 6:10 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Mara Hynek
Recording Secretary