08-10-06 Planning Comm. Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES PLANNING COMMISSION AUGUST 10, 2006 at 50% of the home value, or a building permit for an improvement at 30% of the home value, etc. The Planner again noted thaC the lowest threshold would be to set a date at which all unpaved driveways would have to be paved. Rheaume felt that the City was considering enacting a lot of requirements to solve a problem that does not exist. Duray stated that he would like to see what other cities are doing before making a recommendation on this issue. Barraclough stated that he agrees with Rheaume, if there something isn't broken, don't fix it. Rheaume again noted that the driveways that are unpaved in the City are long, therefore, would be quite costly to pave. Barraclough and Socha agreed. Socha suggested that the existing unpaved driveways be grandfathered in, and the City should not force a property owner to pave. Socha felt, however, that driveways for new construction should be paved. McGraw agreed that driveways for new conshuction should be paved. He also indicated that the Financial implication Co Che property owner should not be the factor in considering whether or not to require unpaved driveways to be paved. McGraw felt the Commission should base its decision on the need in the community. McGraw stated that he would rather find out what the need is and base a recommendation on that. Hall stated that he would supporC paving of driveways for new construction. The City Planner noted that the paving of driveways for new construction is a contemporary and appropriate standard given the today's values of new home construction. The Planner felt the point in question is the threshold thaC the City wants to impose for bringing non-conformities into conformance. Socha asked if the City had to require non-conforming driveways to be paved. The Planner indicated that this is a City decision and noted that there is currenCly no paving requirement for residential driveways. McGraw asked how other cities are addressing this issue. The Planner indicated that the large majority of cities that he is familiar with require driveways to be paved for new construction. The small minority require paving of non-conforming driveways when improvements are made to a property.