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Council Suggested Code Revisions <br /> <br />The City Council asked the Planning Commission to review and comment on four possible <br />code amendments which are included as priorities in the 2003 City of Mounds View Work <br />Priorities digest. <br /> <br />1. Increase the minimum square footage requirements for a single-family home. <br />PC Response: The Planning Commission was opposed to making a change relative to <br />the minimum square footages for a home, their rationale being that homes constructed in <br />the last few years have been larger and more expensive than the homes built in the <br />1950s through the 1980s, thus an increase was not needed. Additionally, the minimum <br />footprint does allow for a moderately sized home and the Commission did not want to <br />discourage affordable housing, even if the community already has a sufficient quantity of <br />affordable housing. <br /> <br />2. Amend the City Code to support and encourage life-cycle housing and upper-end <br />condominiums. <br /> <br />PC Response: The Commission agreed with the Council on this suggestion and staff <br />was directed to bring back some options to consider. There was some discussion <br />regarding this in that the code amendment adopted last year which removed the CUP <br />requirement for townhomes was a step in the right direction. <br /> <br />3. Amend the City Code to restrict or prohibit fast-food drive-thrus. <br /> <br />PC Response: The Planning Commission was opposed to this amendment because the <br />Planning Commission and Council review commercial developments through the <br />development review process and drive-thrus should be addressed on a case-by-case <br />basis rather than outright prohibition. <br /> <br />4. Amend Zoning Code with regard to permitted uses. <br /> <br />PC Response: The Commission again agreed with the City Council, acknowledging the <br />difficulties presented by the way the zoning code addresses permitted uses. A code <br />revision of this magnitude will take some time to review and would more than likely <br />necessitate enlisting the aid of either the City Attorney or a consultant to assist with the <br />process. <br /> <br />Nuisance and Housing Code Violations and Inspections Program <br /> <br />Jeremiah continues to be very active in this arena, taking some proactive steps but for the <br />most part addressing complaints on a reactive basis. As can be seen on the 2002 / 2003 <br />comparison sheet, 83 new nuisance code cases have been addressed with many requiring <br />substantial follow up, some ending up in the court system for ultimate resolution. Housing <br />inspections increased this year with 406 inspections having been completed in comparison <br />to 364 inspections at this time last year. In addition to these, Jeremiah also conducted 95 <br />HRA / Section 8 inspections for which the City received a $1,570 reimbursement.