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MINUTES <br />CITY COUNCIL <br />JANUARY 23, 2013 <br />The City Planner reported that there are several inconsistencies in the <br />Code relative to the parking and storage on residential properties. The <br />Planner noted that this issue is addressed in the Accessory Use Section, <br />the General Provisions Section, and the Parking Section of the Code. The <br />proposal would be to centralize these regulations in one section. The <br />Planner noted that currently the Code allows for parking in the driveway <br />leading up to a residential garage as well as one extra space adjacent to the <br />driveway. There are also various scenarios where parking and storage are <br />also allowed behind the front line of a house in the side yard and required <br />side yard with varying setbacks for the house and the garage. The Planner <br />indicated that in reviewing the Code, it was thought that it would be <br />helpful to put together an illustration showing what is allowed, pull all <br />these Code references into one section, and clarify what is reasonable in <br />the various areas where parking and /or storage is to be allowed. The <br />Planner then referred those present to a grid identifying the property areas <br />in question and what is or is not allowed. In addition to the grid, a <br />diagram has been provided identifying the areas referenced on the grid. <br />The Planner began with what is allowed in the front driveway. The <br />consensus was that `licensed and legally operable passenger autos and <br />light trucks" would be allowed in the front driveway. <br />Next discussed was the "storage of RVs and equipment, and such <br />equipment on trailers (boats, snowmobiles, etc.)" in the front driveway. <br />The Planner suggested that this storage be allowed for RVs and equipment <br />in season. Seasonal definitions would then be added to the Code. There <br />was a great deal of discussion on how to define season. Jim LaCasse <br />expressed concern about the City's dictating what he can park /store in his <br />driveway, and also noted that he does not have the ability to move a <br />seasonable piece of equipment into his back yard and would not put that <br />equipment into the side yard given the need to pave. The Planner <br />indicated that there is a need to limit the amount of storage on a driveway <br />given front yard visibility. Therefore, there is more sensitivity as to what <br />can happen in a driveway versus the rest of a property. The City <br />Administrator noted that Code regulations such as this are an attempt to <br />balance the interests of both the property owner and a neighborhood. <br />The Council then discussed the "parking of large self-propelled RVs" on <br />the front driveway. Knudsen asked about a seasonal limitation on RVs. <br />The Planner stated that RVs are not usable in the winter season in the <br />north. If they are parking on a driveway during the winter, they are <br />winterized and would be considered storage. The Planner thought the <br />current Code allows RVs in a driveway year - round. The Code <br />Enforcement Officer pointed out that there currently is a seasonal <br />restriction on RV parking in the driveway. The Planner noted that some <br />2 <br />