UPDATED 8.26 NarrativeAugust 12, 2025
3630 Hickory Lane
Excelsior, MN 55331
Chanhassen Planning Department
Topic: Request for Variances
Dear Team:
I am planning to tear down my exisƟng 26 feet wide by 24 feet deep detached garage and replace it with
a new, larger garage. The new Menard’s design garage will be the same width at 24 feet but be 34 feet
deep. I also want to move the new garage further from the road to accommodate car parking (the
current garage sits 11.3 feet from the street. I would like the new garage 18 feet from the street). I
would like to incorporate roof strusses (10/12 slope) that allow more storage space above the main
garage level, accessible by a staircase.
1. Property Line Offset Variance
The current garage sits 9.3 feet from the northern property line and 4.5 feet from the southern property
line. The property is only 40 feet wide. I would like to put the new garage within these same property
line offsets.
Addressing the Chapter 20 variance condiƟons:
a. As the exisƟng garage footprint is exactly on the same offsets, this variance is in harmony with
the general purposes and intent of Chapter 20 and consistent with the comprehensive plan.
b. Based on the 40 foot width of the property (plaƩed in the year 1913) there area pracƟcal
difficulƟes of complying with recent zoning ordinances for offset. For instance, a standard 18
feet wide garage door needs structure around it. It is appropriate for the offset variance to be
‘grandfathered in’ on this property.
c. The variance is not based exclusively on economic consideraƟons, rather, pracƟcal
consideraƟons.
d. The circumstances unique to this property are not created by the landowner.
e. The variance will not alter the essenƟal character of the locality as the garage will be in the same
locaƟon on the property as the exisƟng garage.
f. Thus, this variance should be granted.
2. 2-Story Building Variance
The current garage is a one-story structure. I would like to incorporate roof strusses (10/12 slope) on the
negarage to allow storage space, accessible by a staircase in the garage. I have been told that this is
considered a ‘2-story structure’. Based on the impervious raƟo of 25.4, this will allow me to incThe next
door neighbor has a orporate more storage without increasing this impervious raƟo.
Addressing the Chapter 20 variance condiƟons:
a. As the new garage is slightly higher than the exisƟng garage, this variance is in harmony with the
general purposes and intent of Chapter 20 and consistent with the comprehensive plan. The
next door neighbor also has a 2-story garage.
b. Due to the grade of the property, there are pracƟcal difficulƟes to making the garage footprint
larger to accommodate the desired storage space. Thus, a two-story structure allows this
addiƟonal storage space.
c. The variance is not based exclusively on economic consideraƟons, rather, pracƟcal
consideraƟons.
d. The circumstances unique to this property (slope) are not created by the landowner.
e. The variance will not alter the essenƟal character of the locality as the garage as it is only slightly
higher and is next to the neighbor’s two-story garage.
f. Thus, this variance should be granted.
3. Impervious RaƟo Variance
The current impervious raƟo for my property is 21.9%. With the proposed new garage, this raƟo would
be 25.4%. While the current 25% maximum impervious ordinances would normally apply, this property
is unique. The land was plaƩed in 1913. Prior to 1967, the impervious ordinances were 30%. This
project was started in 2023. Since then, a rule changing the impervious requirements to 25% was put
into effect. Since this project was started before this new rule, the current 30% impervious ordinance is
‘grandfathered in’ assuming the landowner complies with a ‘rain garden’ requirement since the property
has lakeshore.
Thus, this variance request is withdrawn as it doesn’t apply.
I appreciate your consideraƟon of these variance requests.
Sincerely,
/s/
Scot Lacek
Version B