11-10-05 Planning Comm. Agenda - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Subiect: This is a request for a two cut driveway variance to Ordinance 903.010 Section 903.23 item J. Our request for a variance to allow for a two cut driveway would not be a grant of special privilege that would be inconsistent with limitation on other properties on County Rd. B2 and around Lake Gervais. Rather, it would be consistent with many other properties that have this privilege on County Rd. B2 and around Lake Gervais. Strict enforcement of the City's ordinances would cause undue hardship because of the circumstances unique to our property for these reasons: • No reasonable safe use of the property due to heavy traffic and high speeds combined with heavy pedestrian traffic. • Circumstance beyond our control low visibility to speeding traffic or pedestrian approach from either direction. • Variance would not alter the essential character of the area; in fact it will be consistent with the area. Baclc¢round County Road B2 along Lake Gervais south shore has both heavy pedestrian traffic and vehicle traffic. Mix that with most vehicles disregarding the speed limit of 30 mph by a far amount, animals being walked with the pedestrians, and children playing; we have a tragic accident waiting to happen. We and I am sure others on our street find it very difficult to navigate backing out of the driveway in a safe mode. We hired Mickman Brothers to create a landscape that would improve the curb appeal of the house (we purchased in Apri105) and to include safety elements into our access onto County Road B2 that would reduce the risk of hitting apedestrian/bike or us being hit by a speeding car coming fast up the somewhat blind hill from the east or from the west off 1/dgerton as we pulled onto County Rd. B2. The landscape architect made it a point to show us that over a third of the driveway entrances onto the roads circling Lake Gervais were '/2 circle driveways that allowed the home owners to safely enter and exit their driveways so that the vehicles can be driven forward out of the driveway. They also pointed out that this helped keep with the standard of 350 feet for a safe site distances that is not achievable when backing onto the roads circling Lake Gervais. Because our house is very close to the road, the designer suggested a circle drive for the above reason and that it would keep with the flow and esthetics of what is akeady in place for many houses around the Lake. Lastly we were told that the designer had talked to the City and we would have no problems hiring or doing the work as planned. It was not till we received a catl from the City that we knew that the designer likely did not talk to anyone and that there was an Ordinance that limited the driveway cut to one opening and we needed to ask for a variance. This variance request would not be detrimental to health, safety and public welfare to other residents. Rather it will improve the safety and enhance the esthetics of the curb appeal in our general area from our house's previous landscaping.