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Item No: 3 <br />Meeting Date: February 6, 2012 <br />Type of Business: Work Session <br />Administrator Review: _____ <br />City of Mounds View Staff Report <br /> <br />To: Honorable Mayor & City Council <br />From: Heidi Heller, Planning Associate <br />Item Title/Subject: Discussion about Driveways and Parking Areas in <br />Single-Family Residential Areas <br /> <br />Introduction: <br /> <br />Permits for replacement driveways or driveway expansions are one of the common permits <br />issued every year, and parking off an improved surface is one of the most common code <br />enforcement problems. City staff was discussing some of the specific parking problems that <br />occur and have talked to the Planning Commission about what the current regulations are for <br />driveways and parking areas, and if they would recommend any changes to the City Code. <br /> <br />Discussion: <br /> <br />Many properties in Mounds View have narrow driveways and/or more than two vehicles. The <br />City receives many complaints about and finds many vehicles parked off the driveway in the <br />grass. After repeated driving over the same grass area, eventually it turns into a dirt patch and <br />is not attractive. Several years ago, the City decided to allow up to 300 square feet of gravel <br />parking areas as a more affordable option for homeowners to expand their driveways or add <br />additional parking in the side or back yard. Most cities have driveway width and setback <br />regulations, even if they do not require a permit for one. The most common side setback <br />requirement is five feet. No cities require more than five feet (other than in a very low density <br />residential district) and only a couple cities allow less than that. <br /> <br />The Mounds View City Code currently regulates driveways and parking areas with these <br />restrictions: <br /> <br /> Driveway curb cuts (the opening at the street) may not be more than 24 feet wide <br /> Driveways may be the width of the garage plus 12 feet, or 35 feet wide, whichever is greater <br /> Driveways must have a hard surface - asphalt, concrete, pavers <br /> Up to 300 square feet of gravel may be used as a parking area <br /> Driveways and parking areas must have a side yard setback of at least 5 feet <br /> If an accessory building is to be utilized for the storage of frequently used vehicles, it shall be <br />serviced by an improved driveway (1106.03 subd. 1h) <br /> All vehicles must be parked on a hard surface (exception: trailers with weight classifications <br />of A or B (0-3,000 pounds) may be parked on the grass) <br /> All new construction homes must install a hard surface driveway. Existing gravel driveways <br />can be maintained, but not expanded in size. <br /> Single-family properties are allowed to have 1 curb cut. Over the years, some property <br />owners have created a second curb cut. The second curb cuts are being eliminated when <br />the street is reconstructed unless it can be shown that the second access has been in place <br />for many years.