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Mounds View Planning Commission September 1, 1999 Regular Meeting Page 6 • that the City Code had been amended to allow the driveway up to one foot from the property line without the need for a variance. Chairperson Peterson inquired if the city of Roseville or any other communities had any restrictions in regard to the proximity of pavement to the lot line. Jopke stated the city of Roseville did, however, the problem in Roseville was that many of the driveways were developed prior to their current standard, a five-foot setback, which is the standard in many communities. He stated that Roseville set up an administrative variance process in order to deal with this. He stated this was done at a time when Roseville was in the process of a major street reconstruction project. He stated the policy decision was that the city would install the curb cuts to meet the ordinance standard, and if a property owner desired to maintain their existing situation, they would go through this administrative variance process. He stated variances were typically granted for such situations. Jopke stated the city of Roseville had discussed amending their Code at that time, however, the Council decided that the administrative variance process would provide a record of where the driveways were located, and chose to pursue that avenue instead. He stated there is a typical standard in regard to the distance of pavement to the lot line, and in Roseville's case, there were many variances granted to allow pavement to be closer than five feet. • Chairperson Peterson inquired regarding the height of the retaining wall located on the north side of the subject property. Mr. Henning stated it was 23 to 24 inches in height. Chairperson Peterson stated it appeared the retaining wall would be necessary in light of the placement of the garage next to the lot line. Mr. Henning stated this was correct. He stated the lot required a large amount of fill, and he did not plan to construct the parking area until recently, in light of its opportune location. He stated the driveway at the street is six feet from the lot line, and at a curve further into the property he is one foot off the lot line. He stated he attempted to meet the Code wherever he was able, and thought he had all the way. Commissioner Miller inquired regarding the location of the curve in the driveway. Mr. Henning stated this was twenty feet into the driveway. Commissioner Miller stated she had driven past the : • i- ', . 4 0 - driveway was curved around the trees, and that it gave the property character. Mr. Henning thanked Commissioner Miller for her comment. He stated he had attempted to do the best he could, which he thought would be acceptable. Commissioner Laube stated so many lots in Mounds View are not only deep but also wide in certain areas and that this situation could come forward again in the future, particularly as homes and garages are getting larger. He stated, in light of this, further review of the City Code was merited. Commissioner Johnson agreed. He stated the garages are being upgraded to the larger sizes, and a very massive garage could be constructed along the front of a house, which instead of having a 30- foot driveway, if paved to the garage, could actually be 42 feet wide. He stated if a conditional use permit was issued for a 1,400 square foot garage, it could be 42 feet wide by approximately 30 feet deep. He stated if the 42 feet happened to be in the front of the structure, the homeowner might