07-25-11 Council Agenda & Packet

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limiting.the height of fences in residential front yards is to establish an open andJnvitf6g .neighborhood for both the nearby residents and general public. A 6' high fend'd at�this higKly visible corner and entrance into the residential area would not aid in creating such an environment. Also, there are no privacy fences in any of the front yards along Dunn Road to the west. The proposed fence would greatly reduce visibility along Dunn Road, Vehicles heading south along Race Street and turning westerly onto Dunn Road would be difficult to see for any vehicle backing out of the residential drives along the north side of Dunn Road especially for the immediate residence to the west. 6. The petition of Chris & Teresa Rhoden. The staff recommends denial of the proposed attached accessory structures ::e'er ord_i once, an attached accessory structure shall be no larger than'the floor area of the dwelli g unit, which in this case is 1,1 1 b sq. ft. The intent is that the combined residential-tiving,areas of a structure still remain the dominant use within the total structure so that the residential appeararice`'�of tFie' s'Fruct� e` is rnaintc�ihed " �" Ndt& ''dt'b"ho bthe`r° ttac e`d it detached accessory structures of'`this `size present and/or msible ih the 'im'medic�te area.' 'Therefore, restricting the size of these accessory structures in residential neighborhoods is appropriate. 7. The petition of Sarah Trainor. The staff recommends denial of all the requested variances for reduced lot area, frontage, and width for two proposed lots on property zoned A Agricultural District. Currently, one 2.5 acre parcel exists upon which a new home could be constructed. The previous home that was located on the site was recently demolished. The primary intent in establishing the agricultural district was the preservation and protection of St, Joseph County's farming community. Preventing and possibly reducing singular residential uses on lots less than 20 acres clearly supports this important County policy. Although the petitioner may suggest that a 1.275 acre reduction in farmland is minimal, the cumulative result of dozens of similar variance requests over several years would add up to substantial acreage. The new lot proposed to be subdivided would,not be split off from unusable, or currently unused, farm acreage. Allowing an additional iofi to be subdivided for another house would therefore take agricultural land out of production and would not meet the intent of the agricultural district to both preserve farmland and protect agricultural areas from the encroachment of scattered urban-type uses. 4. The petition of Kevin & Margaret lynch. The staff does not have any objection to the requested variance. However, if approved, the approval should be subject to combining the ,remnant approximatee ] i.7 acre` south of Karfoffef Creek, which wilt become landlocked, with the adjacent parcel to .the south via a subdivision plat or recorded deed. 14. The petition of Hoosier Tank&Manufaofuong,ltinc. The staff does not have any objection to the requested variances. However, it should be noted that in addition to planting Type."A" open,landscaping along the eastern property line, six white pines 6' in,height also proposed adjacent'to the truck parking area. These pines should adequately buffer the parking area from Voorde Park to the east. SERVING ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, SOUTH BEND, LAKEVILLE, NEW CARLISLE, NORTH LIBERTY. OSCEOLA, a ROSELAND W W W.STIOSEPKCOI)NTYtNOIANA.COM