Planning commission recommends variance for narrow Lakefront lot at 12954 Newlander Avenue

The planning commission on Friday voted to recommend approval of a variance that would allow a new single-family home at 12954 Newlander Avenue to encroach on the required corner side-yard setback.

City staff told the commission the property is legally nonconforming — effectively a narrow parcel at the lake with an existing one-room cabin already closer than the required 30-foot corner side-yard setback. The staff presentation said the proposal would place the new two-story, three-bedroom house and attached garage 15 feet from the corner side lot line, an additional 3-foot encroachment compared with the existing structure. Staff recommended approval with conditions, including an updated survey that shows all easements and confirmation of driveway dimensions and other permit details.

Neighbors who spoke during the public hearing raised practical concerns. David Waldock, who identified himself and gave his address, asked how the new driveway would affect two storm-drain inlets on Pleasant Avenue and suggested the parcel offers very limited buildable area. "How does the driveway affect the storm drain entrances?" Waldock asked, noting uncertainty about where a house could be placed without a variance.

A corner resident from Lindstrom said the new house would block long-established lake views and sunsets and worried about the effect on her property's value: "When I look out now, I'm going to look at the backside of somebody's house. I don't like that," she said.

Neighbor Cassandra Lindgren (12955 Newlander Avenue) asked whether overhead electric lines serving her property — currently draped across the lot — would be buried for the new construction. She said neighbors were previously quoted roughly $6,500 to have lines buried and said they did not intend to pay that cost. The City Planner said staff would confirm utility requirements with the engineer and the utility provider and flagged the presence of drainage easements on the site.

The applicant’s representative said they had been told by the listing agent and others that the lot was buildable with a variance and said they intend to make the house unobtrusive and to conform to height limits. The representative added that site plans had been provided in the packet showing the proposed footprint and that the design aims to fit with the neighborhood.

After public comment, commissioners discussed visibility and traffic at the corner, the limited traffic volume on the intersection, and whether the buyers knew they would need a variance when they purchased the parcel. Commissioners said the proposed encroachment posed minimal traffic safety impacts given the low-volume intersection and that the proposed residence would meet the local height limit.

Chair moved to recommend approval of the variance, specifying the request to reduce the corner side-yard setback from 30 feet to 15 feet to allow the new home, garage and driveway, and the motion was seconded. The commission approved the recommendation by voice vote; the transcript does not record a roll-call tally. Staff will require an updated survey showing easements and will verify building-permit details (driveway width, elevation information and any required utility relocations) before permits are issued.

The commission also heard brief updates about upcoming applications and a comp plan update timeline; the meeting adjourned later the same day.