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NORTHWEST ASSOCIATED CONSULTANTS, INC. <br />4800 Olson Memorial Highway, Suite 202, Golden Valley, MN 55422 <br />Telephone: 763.231 .2555 Facsimile: 763.231 .2561 planners @nacplanning.com <br />MEMORANDUM <br />TO: Little Canada Planning Commission <br />FROM: Kimberly Thompson /Stephen Grittman <br />DATE: March 3, 2006 <br />RE: Little Canada- Horseshoe Driveways <br />NAC FILE: 758.10 - 05.09 <br />Background and Analysis <br />Mike and Heidi Murphy previously submitted a variance request to allow for a second <br />curb cut at 601 County Road B2 East. The subject property is zoned R -1, Single Family <br />Residential. <br />Action on the variance was tabled and the City Council directed our office to prepare <br />some background information on the history of the ordinance and possible regulations <br />the city may want to impose if the code were to be changed to allow for second <br />driveways on single family property. <br />The allowance of a second curb cut within the City is made based upon the street <br />frontage of a property. The intent of this requirement is to limit curb cuts and to control <br />traffic onto streets and roads within residential areas. Section 903.023 J of the City <br />Code, relating to off- street parking requirements, states: <br />Each property shall be allowed one (1) curb cut access for each one <br />hundred twenty -five (125) feet of street frontage. All property shall be <br />entitled to at least one (1) curb cut. Detached single family dwelling units <br />shall be limited to one (1) curb cut access per property. <br />Before the City considers allowing second driveways on single family property <br />there are a number of issues to consider. Access management, safety <br />concerns, and an increase in impervious surface should all be taken into <br />account. <br />Access Management. The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) has <br />done a significant amount of work promoting access management. Access <br />management is the planning, design, and implementation of land use and transportation <br />strategies that maintain a safe flow of traffic while accommodating the access needs of <br />