4A - Variance to Construct Basement under Existing Dwelling on Non-Conforming Lot (continuation)

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COMMUNITYGROWTH GO of I N S T I T U T E 1 eQuat Experts in Small Town Planning i t STAFF REPORT Application: Variance to Construct Basement under Dwelling on Non-conforming Lot Applicant: Steve Caouette Agenda Item:4(a) Background Information: The applicant is requesting a variance to construct a basement under the existing dwelling. A variance is needed as the lot is non-conforming due to width at OHW and building line, buildable lot area, and the existing dwelling encroaches into side yard setback. 4 A The property is zoned Shoreline Residential and is located on Sibley Lake, a General Development Lake. The lot is 14,405 square feet (20,000 sf required) with 42.6 percent of the lot being impervious surface cover (20% maximum allowed). The dwelling encroaches to within 2.7 feet of the side lot line (10 foot setback required),with the deck encroaching even closer. The dwelling meets the lake setback, but the deck encroaches about 10-feet within the lake setback. The dwelling is 1,136 square feet and the applicant is proposing to construct a walkout basement under the structure.The Planning Commission heard this request originally in August and, at that time, directed the applicant to research moving the structure to conform with the side-yard setback and to meet with Staff to present an updated application. The application was tabled in September. The Staff, along with two members of the Planning Commission, we able to meet with the applicant on-site. Mr. Caouette indicated that the quote he received to move the structure was many times the cost to raise it in place. He proposed to keep the structure in its current location, raise it one to two courses of block in the process of adding a basement, abandon the idea of a walkout in favor of the "dugout" approach suggested in August. With the "dugout" approach, the basement would be constructed as a walkout but the excavation would not extend lakeward of the existing deck.The ingress/egress to this"dugout"area would be to the side of the deck. Pequot Lakes Staff Report 4(a)-1 October 15,2009