HomeMy WebLinkAbout1981 05-13 Maplewood man can't turn house into duplex THE REVIEW Maplewood man can ' t turn house into d
By MARY LEE HAGERT that on April 14, 1980, he was given a The property owner obtained well and
building permit for a single-family septic system permits last month. •
Most commuters who travel daily along dwelling with two garages. Triemert contends that a city staff
Highway 36 are probably familiar with Maplewood City Planner Geoff Olson,in member once told him he did not need a
Arnold Triemert's home. an interview with the Review, said permit to install the septic sewer system.
The blue, wood-frame structure is Triemert was told he could build the two He also believes the city staff did not
located on an incline overlooking the . garages because the city code does not adequately warn him that he might not bet.
south side of the freeway. limit the number of garages that can be allowed to build the other half of his a
The building was constructed last year placed on one parcel of land. double dwelling. �.,A • tIrt
and motorists were able to watch the Last spring, the city council allowed Mrs. Carl Pedro, 700 E. Viking Drive,
construction. At first, it appeared as "special use permits" for the con- the original owner of Triemert's land,told K�
though Triemert was having a duplex struction of double dwellings in single the council, "I've kept this little circle ' • , 4
built on his property.But midway through family residential neighborhoods. drive beautiful and I intend to keep it that a r' �'' "
the process, construction took an ab- However, there was a one-year way. I've got my whole life in there and -: s ' -4,, '
normal course. moratorium in effect on the granting of now this place is built. It is very ugly." b
The building has two basement these permits. Councilman Norman Anderson told ` •°
garages. Over one of the garages is a According to Olson,Triemert asked the Triemert, "It (the house) is not a '','%„.• 1,
single family home. There is nothing city staff if he could build half of a double disaster.You can add on more bedrooms .'A 1 :f"; ,
above the second basement garage. dwelling on his property. He hoped to get or a family room in order to make it look
The structure has two separate sets of a special use permit later so he could better."
outside steps. It has two chimneys—one complete the structure. Councilwoman Fran Juker pointed out % ,
that extends above the roof of the house "He was told every step along the line that Triemert's original building plans K i`
and another that is veryshort and that it (the construction of his dwelling) called for the second ',
garage to have a i1 . "
unuseable. was at his own risk.He was told that there deck on top of it with a railing around it. F
Triemert calls his home in its present was no guarantee that the city council Anderson added, "It is very important •„°` "'-
state a white elephant that he will never would grant him a special use permit," that people go by the rules. Our or-
be able to sell.One of his neighbors calls it Olson said. dinances need to be followed.I don't want , : ;
an "eyesore." When the moratorium ended, the city to see this go by."
Triemert says he was misled by the council decided to no longer allow special City Manager Barry Evans added that t F,« ;, 4 "
city's staff into believing that he would use permits for the construction of if the council approved Triemert's x s I W, 4 " , � a
somedaybe allowed to complete his duplexes in neighborhoods zoned for request to have his property rezoned the ,
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duplex in his neighborhood, which is single-family homes. result would be"spot zoning."He advised 'tl` ' '' '—
zoned
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zoned for single-family dwellings only. With the special use permit option gone, the city council members against setting
On May 7,he asked the Maplewood City Triemert has been unable to construct the a precedent of changing zonings by
Council for help.He requested the council other dwelling. allowing the duplex to be built. ARNOLD TRIEMERT'S HOME at 750 Viking Drive, Maplewood City Council ruling last week will remain a
members rezone his property,allow a lot Further complicating the situation was The council members voted to deny Maplewood, has two basement garages, a pair of outside single-family dwelling.
division and grant him a city code Triemert's installation of a septic sewer Triemert's requests to rezone his steps and two septic sewer systems but according to the
variance so he could complete his second system for the building without a permit. property and for a lot division that would
housing unit. The city attorney had to order Triemert to make possible separate ownership of each
Triemert explained to the city council obtain a permit for the existing facilities. half of the proposed double dwelling.